Former Kilkenny hurler Tommy Walsh.
By Cian O’Connell
At the launch of the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh, Eoin Kelly, and Danny Toner joined Damian Lawlor on stage. The hurling talk was good with Walsh’s infectious enthusiasm for the game and skill charming the audience.
Since stepping away from Kilkenny duty Walsh’s punditry continues to earn admirers and Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League semi-final involving Brian Cody’s charges against Wexford has capture his attention.
“First of all Kilkenny going down to Wexford Park is brilliant for supporters especially,” Walsh says. “That is what I am now and when there is a big rivalry developing it is great to be part of it, especially when you have two even teams. You can see the results over the last two years, it is only a point here or a point there.”
It means that intrigue surrounds the Kilkenny versus Wexford rivalry once again. “Then you have the whole Davy factor, he brings an edge and an extra few thousand people because he is so enthusiastic,” Walsh remarks.
“Everyone rows in behind that and for Kilkenny people going down to Wexford Park it is so exciting at the moment. You just don't know.
“For years we felt if we played well we will beat them, but it is not like that anymore. You play well just to hope to win and it is the same for Wexford against ourselves. I think it is going to be a great battle down there.”
With the new Championship format just over a month away from starting Walsh acknowledges it is a particularly interesting time for hurling. “It is, I think the fact that inter-county players are putting so much into it now,” Walsh adds. “They are back training probably since last October or November and nobody now takes any game lightly.
Tommy Walsh attended the launch of the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge at Croke Park on Thursday.
“They go out and it goes with reading up on other sports and that, the top teams and top coaches from around the world, it is all about winning every game now. It is all about being the best, you hear that through various players and managers.
“So that is why on Sunday you will have nobody holding back waiting for Championship, they will be both going to win it. I think the added value at this time of the year for play/off games they are usually played at neutral venues, but when they are played in home and away venues they are often smaller grounds and the atmosphere builds that little bit more.
“I think down in Wexford Park, especially with the following Wexford will bring, it will be epic.”
Walsh is quietly optimistic about how Kilkenny’s blend of youth and experience will fare in 2018. “Some of them have won underage competitions like the minor All Ireland and they got to the Under 21 final last year added into the fellas that have All Ireland medals already,” Walsh comments.
“You have guys with great ability, who have been winners. I think the biggest thing for our guys this year was to develop confidence. That is why after the first two games, they were playing well, but getting beaten.
“You were getting worried that maybe the public opinion might get them down, but they kept going.
“Now they are after getting a few wins and confidence is high again. I think Kilkenny will be very dangerous in the Championship because they have the players. Now they will be coming in hopefully with confidence.”
