LEGEND WALSH SET TO MAKE A RECORD
MICHAEL ‘BRICK’ WALSH has a scattering of Munster medals and All-stars but will achieve arguably his greatest accolade in what could be his final Waterford outing tomorrow.
Presuming he features against Cork, it will be his 74th SHC game – moving him ahead of Tipperary’s Brendan Cummins into first place on the all-time list.
It’s a mark that will stand for a while with the closest active player to him being Joe Canning who is back on 50.
Walsh, 35, played Championship football for Waterford twice in 2002 before prioritising hurling the following year.
Renowned Deise football enthusiast John ‘Jackson’ Kiely was involved with the county minor footballers in 2000 and tried to coax Walsh into the junior and senior set-ups.
“I’d have him in the same league as Tomas O Se for consistency, for toughness – he wouldn’t back down from any challenge,” Kiely insisted.
“He was absolutely fearless, a grand
guy off the field in every way but a warrior. I know he’s won three or four All-stars and been an outstanding servant to the county in hurling but to me he was a way better footballer.”
Waterford could never quite break out of Division Four during Kiely’s tenure but he believes they would have “walked out of it” if he had Walsh and his namesake Shane available to him.
He added: “We could have got to Division Two with those guys. We could have won a lot more Championship
matches.” The thinking is that Walsh will call time on his inter-county career after tomorrow’s game as Waterford won’t be progressing any further.
But Kiely said: “He’s still one of their best men all the time. He’s a super fit fella. I’ve no doubt that the Brick Walsh could go on for a couple more years.
“Brick might have a break now and play the old club football and come back refreshed next year. If I was involved with Waterford hurlers next year he would be one of the first fellas I’d go to.”