Michael "Brick" Walsh (born 23 April 1983) is an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who plays for Waterford Championship club Stradbally. He played for the Waterford senior hurling team for 17 seasons, during which time he lined out in a variety of positions. Often considered one of Waterford's greatest-ever players, Walsh won four All-Stars and is one of just three players to claim awards in defence, midfield and attack. He won five major trophies during his inter-county career, including three Munster Championships and two National Leagues, however, an All-Ireland Championship eluded him. Walsh holds the all-time record for championship appearances with 76.
Born and raised in Stradbally, County Waterford, Walsh began his hurling and Gaelic football career with the Stradbally club. He joined the club's senior teams as a 17-year-old dual player and enjoyed his first success, a Waterford Football Championship, in 2001 - the first of five successive championship wins. Walsh later won a further five championship titles between 2009 and 2017.
Walsh lined out for Waterford in three different grades of hurling over a 19-year period. After making his first appearance for the minor team in April 2000, he later progressed onto the under-21 team as a dual player and won a Munster Championship medal as a footballer in 2003. After one season with the Waterford senior football team in 2002, Walsh made his competitive debut for the Waterford senior hurling team aged 19 in 2003 and enjoyed his first success the following year when Waterford claimed the Munster Championship. He claimed a National League title in 2007 before also claiming a second Munster Championship title later that same season. An All-Ireland Championship runner-up in 2008, Walsh won a third Munster Championship medal in 2010 before collecting a second National League title in 2015. He was an All-Ireland Championship runner-up for the second time in his career in 2017. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling in October 2019.
Playing career
Waterford Institute of Technology
During his studies at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Walsh became a member of the college hurling team. On 1 March 2003, he was a non-playing substitute when the Waterford Institute of Technology defeated the Cork Institute of Technology by 0-13 to 1-07 to win the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Walsh broke on the starting fifteen the following year. On 6 March 2004, he was at midfield when the Waterford Institute of Technology defeated University College Cork by 0-11 to 0-09 to retain the Fitzgibbon Cup.
On 4 March 2006, Walsh was again at midfield when the Waterford Institute of Technology faced University College Dublin in the Fitzgibbon Cup final. A 4-13 to 0-08 victory secured a third winners' medal for Walsh.
Stradbally
Walsh joined the Stradbally club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels as a dual player of Gaelic football and hurling before eventually joining the club's top adult teams.
On 7 October 2001, Walsh was at full-forward when Stradbally drew 0-04 apiece with Rathgormack in the final of the Waterford Championship. He was again at full-forward for the replay two weeks later and scored two points in the 1-13 to 2-04 extra-time victory.
On 27 October 2002, Walsh scored 1-01 from full-forward when Stradbally drew 3-08 to 2-11 with the Nire in final of the Waterford Championship. He lined out in the same position for the replay a week later and, in spite of being held scoreless, collected a second successive winners' medal after a 0-12 to 0-10 victory.
Walsh lined out at full-forward in a third successive Waterford Championship final on 23 November 2003. He was held scoreless but collected a third winners' medal after the 1-11 to 0-08 defeat of Tramore in the final.
Stradbally's run of success continued in 2004, with Walsh lining out in a fourth successive final on 31 October. He claimed a fourth successive winners' medal after the 2-08 to 1-04 defeat of the Nire.
On 13 November 2005, Walsh was at full-forward for Stradbally's 0-06 apiece draw with the Nire in the Waterford Championship final. The replay a week later saw Stradbally defeat the Nire by 1-08 to 1-04, with Walsh collecting a fifth successive winners' medal.
Walsh was moved from full-forward to midfield for the 2006 championship. On 12 November, he lined out in that position in a sixth successive championship final. Stradbally suffered a 1-05 to 0-03 defeat.