[citation needed] He played hurling with his local club O'Connell's and with the Antrim senior inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s.
The explosion of World War II meant that the GAA suspended the All-Ireland minor and junior championships.
Cork, the champions of the previous two years, provided the opposition as up to 50,000 people traveled to Croke Park.
The economic reality of the Emergency saw an unusual exchange take place prior to the game as Walsh presented a quantity of butter to Cork captain Mick Kennefick, who in turn handed over tea to his opposite number.
Antrim lined out in the All-Ireland senior championship for the next few seasons, however, the team was defeated in the semi-final on each occasion.