Walter Walsh still chasing success with Kilkenny
Former Kilkenny hurler, and current Kilkenny footballer, Walter Walsh helped to launch Bord Gáis Energy's new solar campaign. With €400 off, there's never been a better time to switch to solar with Bord Gáis Energy – Ireland's most trusted name in home solar installations. Book your free consultation today and make the smart move for your home – backed by a 25-year panel warranty, 24-hour monitoring, and SEAI-registered installers. Go to www.bordgaisenergy.ie for more details. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Paul Keane
A couple of days out from an All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final involving Kilkenny, Walter Walsh is surprisingly more energised by an upcoming inter-county football fixture.
As recently as autumn, Walsh was a Kilkenny hurler himself but after 13 years in the black and amber he pulled the shutters down on his county career last November.
Well, sort of. You see, as soon as Kilkenny football manager Christy Walsh got wind of Walsh's potential availability for 2025, he put a call through to the powerful Tullogher Rosbercon man who is also handy with the big ball.
Walsh, 34, knocked him back initially as he'd committed to rugby and ended up playing for the Leinster juniors.
But he's on board with Kilkenny now and available for next Friday evening's All-Ireland junior football semi-final against London, part of the annual double header of semi-finals at the GAA's National Games Development Centre in Abbottstown.
Should Kilkenny, the 2022 champions, beat London then they'll play holders New York or Warwickshire at Croke Park two days later in the final, ahead of the All-Ireland senior semi-final involving Meath and Donegal.
"I'm really hoping we are there," smiled Walsh, who was speaking at the launch of Bord Gais Energy's new solar campaign. "I would have played a lot of football in Good Counsel College in New Ross.
"We won Leinsters when we were back in school. I always loved football. And, yes, there's been a big gap in my football career, as there was in my rugby career as well! But I'm delighted to be back playing and it would be amazing really to play football in Croke Park as well. But look, we have a game to win ahead of that."
Walsh won three All-Ireland senior hurling medals, in 2012, 2014 and 2015, alongside Paul Murphy who was part of the Kilkenny football team that won the All-Ireland junior title in 2022.
"There's maybe not as much pressure," said Walsh of playing football for Kilkenny, versus hurling. "Even in club hurling, everything is so serious at the minute. Football, especially in Kilkenny, you go out and enjoy it. There's a lot of very passionate people about Kilkenny football as well, so it's something I'm taking extremely seriously and I'm really looking forward to it."
Kilkenny manager Christy Walsh. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Whether Walsh makes it back to Croke Park with the footballers remains to be seen. What's definite is that the hurlers will be there this Sunday, taking on Tipperary for a place in the MacCarthy Cup final.
"I think they are maybe Kilkenny's biggest rivals," said Walsh of Tipp, conquerors of the Cats in the 2016 and 2019 All-Ireland finals.
There is a school of thought that Tipp may be better prepared for this one, having played more recently and having also come through the battleground Munster championship.
Kilkenny were largely at their ease in Leinster, twice seeing off Galway comfortably, and experimenting with a number of panellists in the game against Wexford.
And when they pitch up at Croke Park on Sunday, it will be four weeks since they won the Leinster final there. Could they be a little undercooked this weekend?
"Look, it's hard to know," shrugged Walsh. "I think it's all going to script so far for Kilkenny. They've won Leinster, they're in an All-Ireland semi-final with four weeks to prepare for it. Every team in Munster wanted to do the same, as did every team in Leinster. So Kilkenny are in a great place and I definitely would be looking at that as a positive. I believe they're ready for this game on Sunday."
Manager Derek Lyng has confirmed that marquee attacker Eoin Cody will be available for selection after missing the provincial final win.
"I think it's massively important to have Eoin Cody back, he's one of the best forwards in the country," said Walsh. "He's a real leader as well, although he's still relatively young. I just think it's massively important to get him on the field at some stage. I'm not sure of his fitness, has he played much. I'm out of the loop now but I think he's really important, whether he comes on or starts."
Lyng has said that Kilkenny need a significant improvement from the Leinster final though Walsh is happy generally with the team's trajectory and, specifically, its shape. Lyng has played around with various options at centre-back and midfield this season.
"It looks to be settled now," said Walsh. "Richie Reid plays centre-back better than anyone really. They've tried different players in that position but Richie reads the game so well. His delivery of the ball is second to none. He's playing really, really well there.
"The midfield partnership of Cian Kenny and Jordan Molloy seems to be working really, really well as well. Some of those positions we didn't have nailed down, especially in midfield, over the last couple of years. But now it looks solid and we look really organised."
