Christy Walsh (hurler)

Christy Walsh

Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Position	Forward
Born	County Kerry, Ireland
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Kilmoyley
Club titles
Kerry titles	4
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County	Apps (scores)
1983–1998	Kerry	13
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
All Stars	0

Christy Walsh was an Irish hurler who played with Kerry and Kilmoyley. He also played football with Ardfert and the Kerry Junior team during the 1980s until the 2000s.

Club

Walsh had a long career with Kilmoyley. Despite being one of Kerry's most successful clubs, it looked as if Walsh would finish his career without a Kerry Senior Hurling Championship title. In 2001 Kilmoyley qualified for the final for the first time since 1988 where they faced holders Ballyheigue. At full time Walsh finally got his hands on a championship medal. ^[1]

Walsh and co were back in the final again in 2002 where they faced Lixnaw in the final. At full time Walsh had added his second medal. ^[2]

2003 would be another successful season for Walsh and co. For the second season in a row Kilmoyley and Lixnaw faced each other in the final. At full time Walsh had his third championship medal after a 2-10 to 1-05 win. ^[3]

In 2004 Walsh lined out in his fourth final in a row against Cauesway. By now he was being used as an impact sub and he made quite the impact by scoring 1-02 in a 3-15 to 2-09 win and a fourth winners medal. ^[4]

He also lined out with Bennettsbridge in Kilkenny.

He also played club football with Ardfert with whom he won a Kerry Junior Football Championship title in 1987. He also played with the St Brendan's Board divisional side. He was captain of the side who qualified for the 1992 Kerry Senior Football Championship final but lost out to Mid Kerry. ^[5]

Intercounty

Hurling

Walsh first joined the Kerry senior team in 1983. He was part of the side that won the 1983 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship with a win over London. Kerry went on to face Antrim in the All-Ireland Preliminary Round but lost out on a 3-13 to 2-10 scoreline.

He had little success until he won the 1986 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship with a win again over London. Kerry faced Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-finals but suffered a heavy loss.

Kerry returned to the Munster Senior Hurling Championship in 1987 for the first time since 1978. A loss to Tipperary was Walsh and cos loss however.

A heavy loss to Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship in 1988 was as good as it got.

A disappointing 1988–89 National Hurling League campaign didn't look good for Walsh and Kerry heading into the championship. However they put up a good display before going down to Limerick for the second season in a row on a 6-11 to 3-10 scoreline.

Over the next few seasons Kerry and Walsh put in some good showings in the Munster Championship but came up short against Cork in 1990 and Waterford in 1991.

By 1993 Walsh was one of Kerry's main players. A good 1992–93 National Hurling League seen Kerry lose out in a good showing against Tipperary in the Quarter-final. In the Munster Championship Walsh's side faced Waterford. At full time Kerry had their first championship win since 1926 on a 4-13 to 3-13 scoreline. ^[6] Kerry were well beaten in the semi-final by Tipperary.

In the next few seasons Kerry put in some good displays but couldn't repeat their 93 win and by the late 90s Walsh had called it a day with Kerry.

Football

Walsh also played football at Junior level with Kerry. He however had little success as a semi-final loss to Tipperary in 1988 ^[7] and a Munster final loss to Cork in 1989 ^[8] were his lot.

Interprovincial

Walsh lined out with Munster in the Railway Cup in the 80s and 90s.

He first lined out during the 1986 staging of the championship. On that occasion Munster lost out to Connacht in the final. He again lined out in 1991 where again Munster lost out to Connacht in the final.

He was back again in 1992 and again Munster made the final this time they faced Ulster. At full time a 3-13 to 1-09 win gave Walsh a winners medal, until 2016 he was the only Kerry player to win a medal on the field of play. ^[9]

Management

In retirement Walsh became involved in management in both football and hurling at club and inter-county level.

Bennettsbridge

Walsh became manager of Bennettsbridge in 2012. Once one of the top sides in the county when Walsh took over they had dropped down to the Junior grade. He led his side to back to back Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship finals to Thomastown in 2012 and Lisdowney in 2013. They were back in the final again in 2014 this time against Mooncoin. At full time Bennettsbridge won out on a 1-17 to 1-07 scoreline. Walsh and co later qualified for the Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship final. A huge 1-20 to 0-03 win over Offaly side Shamrocks seen his side take provincial honors. ^[10] Walsh led his side to an All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship final showdown with Fullen Gaels in Croke Park. A 3-19 to 1-08 win seen the title go to Walsh and the Kilkenny men. ^[11]

There was to be more success in 2015 as Walsh and Bennettsbridge qualified for the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship final where they faced St Patrick's. The sides ended level on a 0-20 to 3-11 scoreline. In the replay the title went to Walshs side on a 1-16 to 1-14 scoreline. For the second season in a row Bennettsbridge found themselves in a provincial final this time in the Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. They faced Meath side Kiltale in the final. A 1-14 to 0-13 win give Walsh and his side another Leinster title. ^[12] Walsh and the Bridge were back in Croke Park for the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship final. They faced Abbeyknockmoy from Galway and took the title after a 1-17 to 1-14 win. ^[13]

After a hugely successful time in charge Walsh stood down from his position at the end of 2017 ^[14]

Laois

In 2016 he was appointed manager of the Laois minor hurling team ahead of the 2017 season. ^[15]

He lead the side to the 2017 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship semi-final where they suffered a heavy loss to Kilkenny. ^[16]

References

1. "Glory days in Kilmoyley". Irish Independent. 30 September 2009.
2. "Kilmoyley can retain hurling title - HoganStand". hoganstand.com.
3. "Three-in-a-row for Kilmoyley - HoganStand". hoganstand.com.
4. "Four-midable Kilmoyley". Irish Independent. 6 October 2004.
5. Rangers, Laune (2 September 2014). "1992".
6. Neville, Conor (13 May 2016). "'There Was A Stigma Attached To Losing That Game' - The Biggest Shock In Modern Hurling History". Balls.ie.
7. "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: :: 1988 Junior :: Munster Semi-Final :: Kerry Vs Tipperary".
8. "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: :: 1989 Junior :: Munster Final :: Kerry Vs Cork".
9. "Railway Cup Hurling - Munster GAA". 11 June 2009.
10. "Leinster Club JHC final: Bennettsbridge enjoy runaway success - HoganStand".
11. "Blow-out as brilliant 'Bridge take Gaels apart". 16 February 2015.
12. "'Bridge win comes at cost". 30 November 2015.
13. "Bennettsbridge have wind in their sails". 8 February 2016.
14. "Bennettsbridge GAA: Christy Walsh stands down as manager". 7 December 2017.
15. https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/sport/226654/chirsty-walsh-takes-the-reins-as-laois-minor-hurling-manager.html
16. https://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/05/10/kilkenny-standard-bearers-no-matter-grade-says-laois-minor-hurling-boss/

Sources

• Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).