Jim Power (hurler)

Jim Power (1895–1998) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Tynagh and with the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1920s.

Biography

Jim Power was born in Tynagh, County Galway in 1894. He was educated locally and lived in Galway for all of his life. As well as being a member of the first Galway team to win the All-Ireland hurling title he lived to see his native-county win three more titles in 1980, 1987 and 1988.

Power died in May 1998. At the time of his death he was the oldest surviving player to have won an All-Ireland medal.

Playing career

Club

Power played his club hurling with his local club in Tynagh and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1920. Power added further county medals to his collection in 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1928.

Inter-county

Power first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Galway senior inter-county team in 1918. Galway, however, was the strongest hurling county in Connacht and the team were virtually unopposed going into the All-Ireland series every year.

In 1922 Power won a Connacht title following a victory over Roscommon, however, it would be 1923 before Galway reached the All-Ireland final. Limerick, winners of the All-Ireland semi-final over Donegal, were the opponents, however, the team refused to play until all Civil War prisoners were released. Limerick were initially disqualified and the title awarded to Galway, however, the game eventually took place. Mick Gill’s tactic of dropping the sliothar into the square paid dividends as Galway won the game by 7-3 to 4-5. Not only was it Power’s first All-Ireland title but it was also the first time that the county had won the championship.

Galway triumphed over Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final in 1924, however, Dublin defeated Power’s side by six points in the championship decider. The following year Power withdrew from the county panel because of a disagreement and it looked as if his inter-county career was over.

Four years later in 1928 Power was back as captain of the team. That year Galway got a bye into the All-Ireland final without even picking up a hurley. Cork were the opponents on that occasion and trounced Galway by 6-12 to 1-0. After the game Power took umbrage at the physical treatment of Mick King by some of the Cork players. At the final whistle he threw down his hurley onto the ground and retired from hurling.

Teams