An Insight into the Area We Live in

The Legend Behind The Knacker Walsh Cup
BY Sean Tully
In 1962 a legend of football in Galway and of Ballinasloe,
passed away in New York. Michael ‘Knacker’ Walsh was
considered to be one of the best players to come out of
Ballinasloe and Galway.
In tribute to this great legacy the Knacker Walsh cup has been awarded
to teams only twice. First was in New York by the late Michael’s wife
Kathleen in 1965 to Cyril Dunne and Sean Meade of the Galway team
when Galway were in New York for the National Football League final
in Gaelic Park.
The next was more recent in 2015 to the U 12 Clan na Gael team
who edged out Ballinasloe in the final. The man will be remembered
down the years, both through memory and history, as one of the
best players from the early 1900’s.
Born in 1890 in Portumna, he first arrived to Ballinasloe with his 2
brothers, Richard and Paddy and 2 sisters Baby and Nellie in 1902 living
first in Mountpleasant then Cleaghmore. He began playing with the local
football club and made an immediate impression. In the Street League
competition set up by Reverend Father Broderick CC and Tom Keating,
his talents came to fruition and to prominence as he played in centerfield.
He was a tricky and nimble player. He had a great pair of hands and
an eye for a score. A very stylish player and as he was referred to back
then a knacky footballer - explaining the origins of his nickname.
From then on he played as an influential and outstanding centre forward
and midfielder for the Ballinasloe and Galway teams. He was on the great
Galway team which found its way to the All-Ireland final in 1919, which
unfortunately just lost out to a strong Kildare side. But found success
with the county club and with great style to boot! In 1925 he captained
the Galway side to victory in the Connacht final against Mayo. In a tight
match he showed his class and maturity as captain and scored the match
winning goal to put the score at 1-5 to 1-3.
Picture: Presentation of Michael ‘Knacker’ Walsh Cup in New York. The cup
presented to Cyril Dunne and Sean Meade, members of the victorious 3-ina-row
senior football team, in May of 1965. Presentation made in May of
1965. (L-R) - Stephen O’Connor (Ballinasloe), Con Duggan, Cyril Dunne, Miss
Kathleen Walsh, Sean Meade, Paddy Lynch and Chris ‘Natie’ Goode.
His footballing career ended however in 1926 when, with his wife
Kathleen and brother Richard, he moved to New York City. And as
he adapted to life in the US his successful tendencies continued as
he and his wife opened up a popular pub across from a well-known
venue, Madison Square Garden. For nearly 40 years he lived with his
wife in the Big Apple, but in 1962 after a long battle with illness he
passed away. Honouring his memory his wife donated a cup named
after her late husband, which was given to members of the famous
3-in-a-row Galway football team in 1965. His peers often regarded
“Knacker” as “the nearest player to Sean Purcell RIP and that’s some
compliment!’’ which showed the high regard he was held in.
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