Walter Walsh encouraged about recent developments in Kilkenny
Pictured is former Kilkenny hurler, Walter Walsh, at the announcement that Fulfil will become the new title sponsor of the GAA Hurling Under-20 All-Ireland Championship in a three-year deal. Through this partnership, Fulfil will be “Supporting Ireland's Game”, to foster emerging hurling talent and active lifestyles across the nation. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Former Kilkenny hurler Walter Walsh believes the new members of Derek Lyng’s backroom set-up will be significant additions for the 2026 campaign.
Eddie Brennan and Niall Corcoran bring plenty of coaching experience and knowledge with Walsh encouraged ahead of the upcoming campaign. “You've the likes of Niall Corcoran and Eddie Brennan coming in, they're experienced at inter-county level,” Walsh says.
“They're going to bring something new to the table. Obviously, you don't want too many drastic changes, so it is good to have the familiarity of having Derek Lyng being there, Michael Rice, and Peter O'Donovan.
“It is great to have that, but also new guys coming in with something different, something new to offer. That might freshen it up a bit which is good.”
The fact that Henry Shefflin takes charge of the Kilkenny U20s in 2026 is another positive development according to Walsh. “With the Fulfil U20 Championship you've Henry and Brian Hogan involved,” Walsh adds.
“That is really positive from a Kilkenny perspective. You're an U20 player and Henry Shefflin is your manager. That is incredible. I like what is happening in Kilkenny at the minute in that regard. Having Henry back is a massive boost.”
Walsh is adamant that Kilkenny can recapture the Liam MacCarthy Cup. The All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final loss to Tipperary hurt deeply. “In my last year against Clare, we weren't far off, either,” Walsh responds.
“It is about getting over the line. I suppose going back, Kilkenny used to get over the line that bit more, maybe, earlier in my career. We are close. We've six Leinsters in a row, that is incredible. In my first year in 2012, Galway had hammered us in the Leinster final, I wasn't even on the panel at that stage of the year. We didn't win it in '13 either.
Walter Walsh featured for Kilkenny in the 2025 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“That time you'd Henry involved, Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney, all of those great hurlers, and we weren't always winning Leinsters when I first came in. Obviously, you want All-Ireland finals, but that is an incredible stat, it is something to build on.
“Kilkenny will be trying to win Leinster again next year. You're in an All-Ireland semi-final then, and it is about winning two games after that. So, we are close. There is no doubt about that, it is just about getting over the line.”
What was it like for Walsh not operating at senior inter-county level in 2025? “It was challenging at the start,” Walsh replies.
“When I decided, I was going to retire, I didn't probably say it for maybe a month. That was a challenging period. It was a month where I was thinking about it a lot. When I did it, then it was better, a weight off my shoulders in a sense.
“There was a bit of hype around it, I got a load of great messages too. It was fine. Then, I dived straight into other sports, the rugby, and I played football with Kilkenny. Obviously, I kept hurling with my club, and I was busy with that. It is important. If you leave the whole dressing room side of it straightaway, that would've been challenging, I try to keep going with as much sport as I can because I love sport.
“I'm not one of these guys to go off on a Sunday morning to run five or 10k on my own. I like the gym, I'll go to the gym, but if I'm running after a ball, whether it is oval or round, whatever ball it is, that makes it much easier.”
Walsh is eager to compete in the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship again for Kilkenny. “It is great because you've passionate people in Kilkenny about football,” Walsh says.
“When you play it you become engrossed in it. I did a summer in Boston when I was playing hurling, when I was 20, you see what it means to people, and you do your best for it. The same with football in Kilkenny.
Walter Walsh and Henry Shefflin during the 2012 All-Ireland SHC Final replay at Croke Park. Photo by: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
“Christy Walsh, he is a Kerryman, he is the manager of the team for the last I don't know how many years, but it means an awful lot to him. You've other guys coming from other counties, who're living in Kilkenny.
“Football is a great game, the new rules have made it so much more enjoyable to watch, but also to play in. Will I play football with Kilkenny next year? Yeah, I intend on playing it, and I'd like to go back a bit earlier.
“I was caught playing rugby towards the end of last year, I did a bit with the Leinster juniors. Definitely this year I'll prioritise the football in Kilkenny, to try to drive on the thing, and maybe encourage others, some of the best footballers in Kilkenny, to play.
“A lot of the time they aren't playing it. Guys have done it for years. You've a load of guys from Mullinavat, they're around my age, they've done it for a number of years, I'd be encouraging some of those more experienced lads to come back, just to try to win.”
Back in 2022, Kilkenny triumphed in the All-Ireland JFC. “It is an All-Ireland final at Croke Park,” Walsh adds.
“Paul Murphy won it, he did a year with the footballers when they won an All-Ireland at Croke Park. He was playing full back they won it before an All-Ireland semi-final, Kerry were playing because they got to swap the jerseys with the Kerry lads, they were delighted, after Kerry won.
“They got to win an All-Ireland at Croke Park, that is something I'd love to do. We got beaten this year in the semi-final, it was on the Friday, had we won it we'd have played New York two days later before the Donegal and Meath semi-final.
“Obviously, I was extremely disappointed we lost that game. You're competitive. It is a chance of winning an All-Ireland at Croke Park, you can't beat it.”