Switch circus is unfair on rare talent

CLASSY WALSH IS ENTITLED TO MOVE

SHANE Walsh hardly warrants or deserves the circus beginning to kick up around him.

He’s found himself at the eye of the first close season storm, not even a fortnight after delivering the performance of his life in his first All-Ireland senior final.

Walsh’s proposed transfer to Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin has annoyed some self-appointed guardians of the game.

Duty

The notion that he should continue to commute four or five hours up and down the road to train and play out of a sense of duty to his club is a nice one, but go live it and see how you feel after a while?

It’s no-one else’s business really. It’s not even acceptable for anyone who has done it regularly to have a go here or judge the players.

And as for anyone who has never done it, their view doesn’t really count unless they are close to the player — walk a mile in Walsh’s boots.

Considering the talent in those feet, it might not be the worst mile, but long term it would surely take a toll.

Walsh is 29 and has arrived at his peak, delivering a sensational All-Ireland performance, scoring nine points, including four belters from play.

Five of the nine came off his right and four off his left.

Very few even noticed this as he’s such a natural looking striker of the ball that he has no weak foot.

Walsh has been a slow burner, but the clinical nature of his free-taking alone this year shows he’s still improving areas of his game.

To get the very best out of himself — and now in a team that has shown the potential to compete for an All-Ireland — Walsh has every right to do so.

Climbing in and out of a car on a long commute, a couple of times a week is not giving himself the best possible chance.

Walsh wants to transfer clubs to play football in an area he’s living in.

It’s not like he’s transferring to a local rival half an hour down the road.

Of course his club KilkerrinClonberne are disappointed, but Walsh has said he’ll be back to finish out his career.

He’s also given two decades plus to his club.

This should not be a talking point, let alone a controversy.

His club should be waving him off and wishing him well as he walks into a club that expects to compete for Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland honours every year.

Backs

The fact it’s Kilmacud Crokes, probably second only to Ballyboden St Enda’s in terms of population, members and teams, has got many backs up.

Stillorgan-based Crokes were beaten after extra-time in this year’s All-Ireland club final by Kilcoo.

If there was early betting, they’d be in the top two or three favourites to win it this time round.

If they weren’t in Dublin, they’d be outright favourites by a distance.

But there are no guarantees Walsh and Crokes will even escape the bearpit that is the Dublin Championship.

Why would he go to a smaller club with less chance of winning an All-Ireland, when he’s not breaking any rules.

Some will say if he can travel for Galway training, he can do it for the club.

But this is slightly facetious and unrealistic in the way modern day GAA works.

Inter-county players have to do what is right for themselves to be in the best possible position mentally and physically to perform under the most intense scrutiny and pressure.

The demands are huge and not just time and commitment wise. The level of training takes a toll on the body long term.

Inter-county players are a special breed, whether some like to admit it or not.

Even by virtue of the commitment they’re already giving in an amateur game to play at the highest level

They need minding.

Those who have no idea of the level of physical and mental commitment inter-county players give, and the lives they lead for most of the year, or simply don’t care, are an irrelevance.

If you could get a hurler on a high stool onto a ditch ...

Pity

It’s a pity he felt he had to release a statement on his proposed transfer, and in the cold light of day his club will hardly object.

This would be the biggest pity of all, and ultimately a counterproductive move.

This is a story that needs to die — fast.

Walsh should be left alone to get on with his life and some respect shown for what he has given to his club and county.