Cork's Aidan Walsh was delighted with Sunday's Munster Championship win over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.
By Cian O'Connell
Ultimately it was just one of those splendid Munster Championship afternoons for Cork so Aidan Walsh's selfless display carried real weight.
Recalled to the Cork starting XV the Kanturk clubman was a key figure as John Meyler's outfit thundered back into the provincial reckoning.
Patrick Horgan and Alan Cadogan were a potent threat inside, but Walsh's value to the Cork cause was underlined in the LIT Gaelic Grounds triumph over Limerick.
“I know I don’t the skill of the Hoggies or the Lehanes or the Cadogans, but I know when they do get the ball they’ll do the damage,” Walsh remarked following Cork's stirring success.
“I’m happy enough to work hard, run as much as I can, run myself into the ground and make space for the boys, get the ball and give it to the shooters.
“Most teams have someone like that and I’m happy, if I’m given the opportunity, to do it.”
Following a bitterly disappointing defeat to Tipperary Walsh acknowledged that Cork weren't burdened by any great expectations travelling to Limerick.
“People were writing us off all week and it was hard to blame them, really,” Walsh stated. "When you lose a home game as convincingly as we did last week, it didn’t bode well.
Alan Cadogan and Aidan Walsh celebrate following Cork's stirring success over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.
“The boys made some big calls – myself, Rob Downey making his Championship debut, Mark Ellis didn’t play any League, they were big calls and I’m delighted.
“Rob Downey was excellent, Mark Ellis was outstanding, Deccie Dalton came on and got two points, Niall O’Leary, second Championship game. We’ve a 39-man panel and we’ve shown that fellas can come in.
“Mark Ellis wasn’t even on the panel last week and he comes in and plays like that, that just shows the character of the group.”
Waterford are next on the agenda for Cork with Walsh relishing that Pairc Ui Chaoimh encounter on June 8.
“It’s only two points at the end of the day, but we’ve three weeks now to prepare for Waterford, which will be a massive game," Walsh added.
“We’ve a lot of work to do, but we’ll be looking forward to it. It’ll be a big boost to the group and a lot of fellas didn’t make the panel so they’ll be chomping at the bit to try to get in.
“Alan Cadogan was on the bench and he hadn’t played, it was his first Championship game in two years. He showed he’s an outstanding player and we’re lucky to have players of that calibre to come off the bench.
“Conor [Lehane] was a huge loss, but we were delighted for Cadogan. He’s had a tough year, but he came in and did that."
