A proposal has been made to Munster GAA to name the cup presented to the Munster senior football champions in memory of a Clare man.
The provincial body will consider naming the trophy after its former chairman Noel Walsh, who passed away in 2020.
The Miltown St Joseph’s clubman was central to the Open Draw being implemented in the provincial football championship, and played a key role in masterminding Clare’s Munster championship win of 1992.
His son Carl, who was a member of that squad, says it would be a fitting way to honour his legacy.
As a player, Noel won two Clare Senior Football Championship medals with the St. Josephs Miltown-Malbay Club and served as Club Secretary and Chairman. Noel represented Clare at Minor and Junior Football level.
He was the Clare County Board delegate to Munster Council for 8 years and was also Chairman of Clare Bórd na bPáirc. Noel was a Senior Football Selector for 20 years including when Clare won the Munster Championship in 1992 and served 3 terms as Manager of the Clare Senior Football team.
Noel became Vice-Chairman of the Munster Council in 1992. In 1995, he succeeded Tom Boland as Munster Chairman and completed his term of office in March 1998.
He served as Chairman of the Coaching and Games Development Committee and also Chairman of the Provincial Football Development Committee. He was a member of the Management Committee and Central Council for 3 years, and was Chairman of the Amateur Status Committee.
Noel was appointed Chairman of the National Football Development Committee by then President Joe McDonagh, and was also a member of the Disciplinary Rules Workgroup, the Railway Cup Workgroup and Féile Peil na nÓg Workgroup.
