Michael John Flaherty

Who was Michael John Flaherty?

M. J. 'Inky' Flaherty was an Irish sportsperson. He played inter-county hurling for Galway from 1936 to 1953, and was a noted boxer. Flaherty trained the Galway hurling team in the 1950s, and again in the 1970s, leading the side to league success in 1975. Starting out playing hurling for his beloved Liam Mellows, Flaherty went on to spend most of his inter-club days representing Ballinasloe in both hurling and Gaelic football. Also contributing as a coach and referee, his lifelong dedication to the GAA was recognised in 1989 when he was presented with a GAA All-Time All-Star Award. The currently uncontested Connacht Senior Hurling Championship was named in his honour.