‘We’d love to have our FA Cup hero at Croke Park this weekend’
KILKENNY veteran Walter Walsh wishes clubmate Thomas O’Connor was chasing down championship success at Croke Park this weekend rather than FA Cup glory. Walsh and his Tullogher Rosbercon teammaates will seek to become the AIB All-Ireland JHC club champions this Saturday when they take on Cork champions St Catherine’s at GAA headquarters. The tie comes 15 years after losing to another club from the Rebel County — Dripsey — in the decider. And Tullogher Rosbercon will include Donncha and Anthony O’Connor, brothers of Wrexham hero Thomas, whose goal last weekend against Shrewsbury booked the Welsh League Two side a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup against Blackburn at the end of the month. However, the former Republic of Ireland Under-19 star was also a talented hurler, with Walsh admitting he would love to be playing alongside him in this upcoming fixture. ‘It would be no harm to have him back. He was a savage hurler as well,’ commented top Cat Walsh. ‘I was actually over to see him playing for Wrexham in December along with Donncha and Cian O’Donoghue who plays with us as well. ‘We went over to see them playing against Newport and they won. That was my first time over to see him so it was great. ‘He’s flying it. We’d absolutely love to have him but unfortunately he’s caught.’ O’Connor’s pro career means that playing for his club during the summer close season is not an option, but he remains a keen observer of the team’s exploits. ‘He wouldn’t be able to do that now but we’d love it if he did. ‘For the semi-final against Castleblayney, he actually flew home that Sunday to go to the match and flew back out again so he’s still very much interested in it,’ he added. ‘He used to love hurling and he still follows it. ‘There’s a fair few of us following him now even more so’, said attacking star Walsh.