In the Junior All-Ireland Hurling Championship final Kilkenny’s Tullogher Rosbercon played Cork’s St. Catherines.
A convincing scoreline of 1-13 to 2-27 saw Tullogher Rosbercon come out on top. Celebrations in Tullogher will be sure to last until the end of this week and spill into next week.
KCLR spoke to Tullogher Rosbercon’s Walter Walsh, a Kilkenny veteran with sixteen years of experience on county panels.
Walsh spoke about his childhood sport of rugby, his position on the Kilkenny panel this year following rumours of retirement, and he reflected on the year 2023. He also touched on how he remains motivated after already winning so much in his career.
The star hurler was a multi-sport athlete as a child where he played both hurling and rugby.
”I really, really enjoyed rugby. I have been playing hurling since I was the age of five. It was hurling in the summer and rugby in the winter,” said Walsh.
He also spoke about how he decided to pursue hurling.
”The decision was made when I was called up to the Kilkenny minor team. The physicality and the spatial awareness are similar in both sports though.”
Speaking on retirement possibilities, Walsh told us the full story of what is next for him on the Kilkenny senior county panel and how he made his decision to keep playing.
”I didn’t think about it a whole lot. The club campaign, the body felt good and I was moving well. I spoke to Derek, It was all very positive, and I would love to wear the Kilkenny colours again.
“Richie Hogan announced his retirement and Padraig Walsh as well you know I’m at the age, I’m older than Padraig.”
For Walter Walsh, 2023 was a massive year for him. He told us all about it.
”It was a special year, winning the Leinster final was massive. Then there was the All-Ireland final and I got married to Vicky which was a really special day as well.
“It really gets you over the disappointment of losing an All-Ireland final.
“Sometimes after you win something you just want to bury yourself in the sand. But you have to get on with it.”
With reporting from Scoreline’s Donagh Maher.
