Career
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. Club
King played his club hurling with his local club in Castlegar, however, he enjoyed little success.
Inter-county
King first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Galway in 1923.
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.
lieutenant 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. lieutenant 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.
