Ollie Walsh

Patrick Oliver Walsh (13 July 1937 – 9 March 1996) was an Irish hurler and hurling manager.

His career included All-Ireland Championship victories as a player and later as a manager with the Kilkenny senior hurling team.

After coming to prominence at schoolboy level, he enjoyed a hugely successful juvenile and underage career, winning a total of seven county championship medals in various grades between 1947 and 1954.

After beginning his career at club level with Thomastown, Walsh joined the Kilkenny minor team as a 15-year-old in 1953 and won a Leinster Minor Championship in 1955.

Walsh first played for Kilkenny as a 15-year-old when he was drafted onto the minor team for the 1953 Leinster Championship.

He made his debut on 21 June 1953 when Kilkenny suffered a 3-06 to 4-01 defeat by Dublin.

In spite of the defeat, Walsh's "great display" was highlighted in a match report in the Irish Independent.

Kilkenny and Dublin renewed their rivalry at minor level when the sides once again clashed in the 1954 Leinster final, however, Walsh ended the game on the losing side after lining out at midfield in the 4-12 to 4-07 defeat.

Walsh was eligible for the minor grade for a third successive season and, for the second successive season, he lined out in the decider when Kilkenny qualified to play Wexford in the 1955 Leinster final.

He was again denied a provincial final victory when the game ended in a 3-10 to 5-04 draw.

The replay a week later saw Walsh finally claim a Leinster Minor Championship medal after the 0-11 to 0-08 victory.

His underage career ended on 7 August 1955 with a 3-13 to 1-08 defeat by Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final.

After being overage for the minor team the following year, Walsh was drafted on the Kilkenny junior team.

After a brief stint with the junior side, he was promoted to the Kilkenny senior team in 1956.

As a Gaelic footballer with Graiguenamanagh, Walsh was at left corner-back when the club faced Glenmore in the final of the 1956 Kilkenny Senior Championship.

After an initial draw, he claimed a winners' medal after the 1-03 to 1-01 victory in the delayed replay.

He made his debut in that grade on 8 April 1956 when he lined out in goal in a 3-06 to 2-02 defeat of Wexford in the Leinster Junior Championship.

Walsh's performances in the minor and junior grades drew the attention of the senior selectors and he was one of a number of players promoted to the Kilkenny senior team prior to the start of the 1956 Leinster Championship.

He made his first appearance in the senior ranks as an 18-year-old on 20 May 1956 in a 6-11 to 3-09 defeat of Westmeath.

On 8 July 1956, Walsh lined out in his first Leinster final, however, Kilkenny suffered a 4-08 to 3-10 defeat by Wexford.

During that time he was part of five All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1957, 1963, 1967, 1969 and 1972.

Walsh also secured 10 Leinster Championship medals and two National Hurling League medals.

After his playing career, Walsh found success as both a club and inter-county manager.

On 12 May 1957, Walsh contested his first national final when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the final of the 1956-57 National League.

He ended the game on the losing side after a 3-11 to 2-07 defeat.

Walsh lined out in a second successive Leinster final on 4 August 1957 and claimed his first winners' medal after the 6-09 to 1-05 defeat of Wexford.

On 1 September 1957, he again lined out in goal when Kilkenny faced Waterford in the All-Ireland final.

Walsh ended the game with his first winners' medal after the 4-10 to 3-12 victory.

Walsh lined out in a second successive provincial decider when Kilkenny qualified to play Wexford in the 1958 Leinster final.

He ended the game with a second successive winners' medal after being described in the Irish Independent as an "inspiration" following the 5-12 to 4-09 victory.

On 12 July 1959, Walsh lined out in the fourth Leinster final of his career with Dublin providing the opposition.

He was at fault for conceding a goal after bringing down a high ball, however, he ended the game with a third successive winners' medal after the 2-09 to 1-11 victory.

On 6 September 1959, Walsh played in his second All-Ireland final when Kilkenny faced Waterford at Croke Park.

The high point of Walsh's club career occurred on 16 December 1962 when he claimed a Kilkenny Junior Championship title after a 7-09 to 4-04 defeat of Coon in the final.

He was named Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1967, and was also selected on the Gaelic Weekly Team of the Year on three occasions.

Walsh began his hurling career at club level with Thomastown.

From his debut, Walsh was ever-present as a goalkeeper and made a total of 42 championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 1972.

After gaining managerial experience with the Carlow senior hurling team, he guided his own Thomastown club to a Kilkenny Intermediate Championship title in 1983.

After a hugely successful tenure with the Kilkenny junior team, Walsh managed the senior team to several All-Ireland Championship, Leinster Championship and National League successes over a five-year period.

Noted for his swashbuckling style, which included blocking, side-stepping his opponents and clearing the sliotar down the field, Walsh is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the game.