Willie Walsh (1910s hurler)

Willie "Bowler" Walsh was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1912 until 1915.

Playing career

Inter-county

Walsh first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior team in the early part of the 20th century. He first tasted success in 1912 when he captured a Munster winners’ medal following a 5-2 to 3-2 defeat of Tipperary.^[1] The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on arch rivals Kilkenny. A close game ensued, however, a Sim Walton goal gave ‘the Cats’ a lift and helped them to a 2-1 to 1-3 victory over Cork and a second consecutive All-Ireland title.^[2]

Cork lost their provincial crown in 1913; however, in 1915 ‘the Rebels’ were back. An 8-2 to 2-1 defeat of Clare gave Walsh a second Munster winners’ medal.^[3] Cork later lined out in the All-Ireland final with Laois providing the opposition. Walsh’s side were the overwhelming favourites going into the game and took a 3-0 to 2-2 lead at half-time. A terrible downpour hampered the hurling with some players lining out in their overcoats. At full-time Laois were the champions for the first and only time in their history.^[4]

Family

Walsh is part of a Cork hurling dynasty. His son-in-law, Willie Cummins, played hurling with the Cork minor team in the 1930s. He captured back-to-back All-Ireland minor titles in 1938 and 1939. Walsh’s grandsons, Kevin, Ray and Brendan Cummins, all wore the red jersey of Cork at various levels from the 1960s until the 1980s. Kevin captained ‘the Rebels’ to the All-Ireland minor title in 1964. Ray captained the Cork senior team to the first of three All-Ireland titles in-a-row in 1976 while Brendan was also a key member of the team.

Honours

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (0):
  • Runner-up (2): 1912, 1915
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 1912, 1915

References