From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sim Walton |
| Personal information |
| Sport |
Hurling |
| Full name |
Sim Walton |
| Place of birth |
Tullaroan , County Kilkenny |
| Nickname(s) |
Little Sim |
| Club information |
| Club |
Tullaroan |
| Position |
Forward |
| Inter-County |
| County |
Kilkenny |
| Position |
Forward |
| Inter-County(ies)** |
| County |
Years |
Apps (scores) |
| Kilkenny |
1903-1919 |
49 |
| Senior Inter-County Titles |
| Leinster Titles |
9 |
| All-Ireland |
7 |
|
* club appearances and scores
correct as of .
**Inter County team apps and scores correct
as of .
|
Sim Walton (1880-1966) was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Tullaroan and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1903 until 1913. He is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest ever players.
Walton's status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for ten years he won seven All-Ireland titles and eight Leinster titles. Walton's tally of seven All-Ireland medals was a record he jointly held with Dick 'Drug' Walsh, Jack Rochford and Dick Doyle until it was surpassed by Christy Ring and John Doyle over forty years later.
[edit] Early life
Sim Walton was born in Reimeen, Tullaroan, County Kilkenny in 1880. He grew up on the family farm and inherited a love of hurling from his father who won a senior county championship title with Tullaroan in 1887. Walton later became renowned as an excellent centre-forward and full-forward.
[edit] Playing career
Walton played his club hurling with the famous Tullaroan side in Kilkenny. He enjoyed much success with the club, winning several senior county championship titles from the late 1890s until 1915.
[edit] Inter-county
Walton first played senior hurling with Kilkenny in 1903. That year he won his first Leinster title, however, Kilkenny were later defeated by Cork in the 'Home Final.' In 1904 Walton won his second Leinster medal before later winning his very first All-Ireland medal following a victory over Cork. The following year he won a third provincial title before adding a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. In 1907 Walton captured a fourth Leinster medal as well as a third All-Ireland medal following yet another victory over Cork. He won his fourth All-Ireland medal in 1909 following a comfortable victory over Tipperary.
In 1911 Kilkenny were named All-Ireland champions without having to play in the final, thus giving Walton his fifth All-Ireland medal. In 1912 Walton was appointed captain of the Kilkenny team. He played a real captain's role, guiding Kilkenny to yet another Leinster title. In the All-Ireland final against Cork he scored the winning goal. That day he collected his sixth All-Ireland medal. In 1913 Kilkenny completed the three-in-a-row with Walton collecting n eighth Leinster medal and a record seventh All-Ireland medal. He remains one of only a handful of Kilkenny players to win seven All-Ireland medals on the field of play. This record was later surpassed by Christy Ring of Cork and John Doyle of Tipperary. In retirement from hurling Walton trained greyhounds and had much success.
Sim Walton died in 1966. His grand-nephew, Liam Doyle, won All-Ireland medals with Clare in 1995 and 1997.
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1904 (1st title) |
|
1 P. Maher | 2 S. Walton | 3 J. Hoyne | 4 P. Saunders | 5 J. Doheny (Capt.) | 6 J. Lawlor | 7 D. Doyle | 8 E. Doyle | 9 P. Fielding | 10 D. 'Drug' Walsh (Capt.) | 11 J. Rochford | 12 D. Grace | 13 R. Brennan | 14 D.J. Stapleton | 15 P. Lanigan | 16 J. Anthony | 17 M. Lawlor | Subs: J. Dunne
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1905 (2nd title) |
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1907 (3rd title) |
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1909 (4th title) |
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1 M. Doyle | 2 E. Doyle | 3 D. 'Drug' Walsh (Capt.) | 4 D. Doherty | 5 J. Kelly | 6 B. Hennebry | 7 J. Delahunty | 8 J. Dunphy | 9 D. Kennedy | 10 J. Keoghan | 11 S. Walton | 12 J. Rochford | 13 M. Gargan | 14 M. Shorthall | 15 J. Ryan | 16 P. Lanigan | 17 D. Doyle | Subs: D. Grace
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1911 (5th title) |
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1912 (6th title) |
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Kilkenny - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1913 (7th title) |
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1 J.T. Power | 2 J. Keoghan | 3 J. Rochford | 4 J. Lennon | 5 D. Kennedy | 6 D. Grace | 7 D. 'Drug' Walsh (Capt.) | 8 M. Gargan | 9 J.J. Brennan | 10 P. Grace | 11 D. Doherty | 12 D. Doyle | 13 S. Walton | 14 M. Doyle | 15 J. Kelly
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[edit] References
- Brendan Fullam, Captains of the Ash, (Wolfhound Press, 2004).
