HERO DONN WITH KERRY
Boss and pals pay tribute to ‘ultimate team player’ Walsh
KERRY’S new manager will be down another warrior when he takes the reins in the coming weeks.
Kingdom chiefs are still in the process of identifying the right candidate to succeed Eamonn Fitzmaurice in arguably the hottest of seats in Gaelic football.
Whoever prevails will have a leadership void to fill following Donnchadh Walsh’s announcement yesterday that he has brought his 15-year senior Kerry career to an end.
Given his age, the decision by the 34-year-old wasn’t wholly unexpected. But following the recent retirement of Kieran Donaghy, it’s further confirmation that Kerry have entered a new era and it’s a loss to the dressingroom that a winner of three Allirelands, eight Munster titles and one All-star (2015) has gone.
At the start of the year, Fitzmaurice introduced a core group of young players, spearhead by David Clifford and Sean O’shea, to his panel and they contributed hugely to the county’s League and Championship campaigns, although ultimately the summer ended in huge disappointment for the Kingdom in the Super 8s.
For Walsh, it felt like the natural finish to a senior county career that was slow to flourish, as he only made his Championship debut at 24 in
2007, though he made his League debut under Paidi
O’SE in 2003.
“I first played for Kerry as a minor two days after my 17th birthday back in 2001 (inset), and apart from a brief SEAN ARMSTRONG has retired from county football with Galway – for the second time.
Forward Armstrong, 32, called time with the Tribe in 2014 but returned two years ago and helped Kevin Walsh’s panel win Division 2 last year as well as the Connacht title this summer.
Galway went on to progress from the Super 8s only to lose to eventual champions Dublin in the semi-finals. period where I had to knuckle down in my early 20s, I have been on the juggernaut that is the life of a Kerry footballer ever since,” said Walsh. “I cherished every second because it’s all I ever wanted to do.
“But now, it’s time for me to step aside.” The hugely committed Cromane footballer’s best assets were his versatility,
“To all the managers, backroom staff, players and fans, it has been a privilege to play for you and alongside you,” said the Salthillknocknacarra veteran, who leaves with three
Connacht titles.
“To my family and friends, thank you for your absolute support.
It was an honour to wear the maroon and white.” his dependability and a relentless approach to the game.
But injury blighted his last year in the green and gold, his one Championship appearance in 2018 coming in the Super 8s defeat to Galway.
Former boss Fitzmaurice called Walsh “machine-like”, adding: “Once the ball was thrown in Donnchadh was in perpetual motion, always available as an outlet and his honesty when working for the team was exemplary.”
Walsh added: “The greatest honour I ever could’ve imagined has been pulling on the green and gold jersey but, as with all good things, it must come to an end. That end has arrived.
“I was reared about 10 metres from Cromane GAA pitch and it has been close to my heart since I could raise my foot and kick a ball. “I look forward to kicking many more balls there in the years to come.”