Mick King
Encyclopedia
Mick King was a famous Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Castlegar
and with the Galway
senior inter-county team from 1923 until 1935. King is regarded as one of Galway’s greatest-ever players.
, however, he enjoyed little success. Although Castlegar are the most successful club in the Galway county championship, King had retired from hurling just one year before the club won their first county title.
in 1923. That year the county won the All-Ireland title for the first time, however, King was not a member of the team.
In 1924 Galway reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, King played no part in the defeat by Dublin
.
In 1925 King had finally established himself on the team as Galway trounced Kilkenny
by 9-4 to 6-0 in the All-Ireland semi-final to set up a championship decider with Tipperary
. It was Galway’s third All-Ireland final in-a-row, however, Tipp got off to a great start with two quick goals. King’s side never recovered and lost the game by 5-6 to 1-5.
The next two seasons saw Galway face defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final; however, the team received special treatment in 1928. 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 King’s side by 6-12 to 1-0.
King was off the team again in 1929 as Galway lost out to Cork in a second consecutive championship decider. This was Galway’s last appearance in the All-Ireland final until 1953, however, there was one final victory left in the team in the 1930-1931 National Hurling League
. In the final of that competition Galway played Tipperary, the reigning All-Ireland champions. In a thrilling game Galway emerged victorious by 4-5 to 4-4. It was King’s sole National League title and his only major honour from inter-county activity.
After suffering a number of consecutive defeats in the All-Ireland semi-final, King retired from inter-county hurling in 1935.
King was posthumously named on the Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000. His inclusion on the team in the right wing-forward position marks him out as one of his county’s greatest-ever players.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Castlegar
Castlegar GAA
Castlegar GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Castlegar in County Galway, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.-Overview:...
and with the Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
senior inter-county team from 1923 until 1935. King is regarded as one of Galway’s greatest-ever players.
Club
King played his club hurling with his local club in CastlegarCastlegar GAA
Castlegar GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Castlegar in County Galway, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.-Overview:...
, however, he enjoyed little success. Although Castlegar are the most successful club in the Galway county championship, King had retired from hurling just one year before the club won their first county title.
Inter-county
King first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with GalwayGalway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in 1923. That year the county won the All-Ireland title for the first time, however, King was not a member of the team.
In 1924 Galway reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, King played no part in the defeat by Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
.
In 1925 King had finally established himself on the team as Galway trounced Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
by 9-4 to 6-0 in the All-Ireland semi-final to set up a championship decider with Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. It was Galway’s third All-Ireland final in-a-row, however, Tipp got off to a great start with two quick goals. King’s side never recovered and lost the game by 5-6 to 1-5.
The next two seasons saw Galway face defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final; however, the team received special treatment in 1928. 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 King’s side by 6-12 to 1-0.
King was off the team again in 1929 as Galway lost out to Cork in a second consecutive championship decider. This was Galway’s last appearance in the All-Ireland final until 1953, however, there was one final victory left in the team in the 1930-1931 National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
. In the final of that competition Galway played Tipperary, the reigning All-Ireland champions. In a thrilling game Galway emerged victorious by 4-5 to 4-4. It was King’s sole National League title and his only major honour from inter-county activity.
After suffering a number of consecutive defeats in the All-Ireland semi-final, King retired from inter-county hurling in 1935.
King was posthumously named on the Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000. His inclusion on the team in the right wing-forward position marks him out as one of his county’s greatest-ever players.