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