Latest news with #WalterWalsh
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Walter Walsh shares thoughts on semi-final 'ghost point'
Walter Walsh watched his former side just about miss out on a place in the All-Ireland final two weeks ago when Kilkenny fell short against Tipperary in front of a packed Croke Park. However, the match ended with a slight bit of controversy after Tipperary received a 'ghost point' on the scoreboard which was actually flagged as a wide by the referee. The Kilkenny players believed they were three points down and needed a goal to force extra-time, while in fact they were two down instead and could have possibly gone for points from further distances. Walter Walsh believes there would have been no point in calling for a replay. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Despite mixed reactions from pundits and former players, Walter Walsh believes it is 'hard to say' whether the mistake defined the outcome of the game with multiple variables at play. Walter told BusinessPlus: 'Look, it's disappointing as a Kilkenny supporter and it definitely affected the way Kilkenny were finishing the game. There's no other way to know the score other than to ask the ref, but it was so frantic, there's no way of asking. You look up at the scoreboard and you see the score and you know, do we need to get a point or a goal? It's as simple as that. 'I don't want to be making excuses as a Kilkenny supporter or anything, but it's just that I had been involved, I would have been—it would have been so hard to take as well because it's something that shouldn't have happened.' Walter is favouring the Rebels in the All-Ireland final. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Walter also believes that there would have been no point in calling for a replay as some people did after the game and that it was 'better' just to end the game as they did. He added: 'There was only two weeks to an All-Ireland final, I don't think there would have been time for a replay really, and I don't think anything would have changed, to be honest.' The three-time All-Ireland winner retired from hurling last year. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Tipperary will have put the semi-final swiftly behind them as their focus quickly turned towards this Sunday's final showdown against Cork. With wet and thundery conditions forecast, hurling fans could be in for an afternoon of unpredictable entertainment – but Walter believes one side just about has the edge over the other. He said: 'I just think all year I've been kind of tipping Cork. I just think that they have so much firepower going forward, so much quality there, and then even off the bench as well, there's so much pace to come on. I just think they're the best team in the country, and I think that's why they'll win. They have so much talent, it comes down to that. They're so hungry and, like, there's so much hype with them as well. Walter's focus has now shifted to the business world. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 'I think it will be a great final and people are saying that Cork are going to win. But like, Tipp are being kind of rolled off all year, and they're proving a lot of supporters wrong all year and could do it again on Sunday.' The three-time All-Ireland winner retired from hurling last year and has already turned his attention towards the business world. Walter established and developed SocialTies with Brendan Kavanagh and edtech Olive Group, the operator of Grinds360, the grinds website in which the former Kilkenny star was an early investor. SocialTies builds localised digital platforms for communities such as GAA clubs and schools that act as a central hub for content, communications, fixtures, results and other information. The idea behind the platform is that all club information is fed into one place, but clubs can also post exclusive content such as competitions, articles and podcasts and generate revenue through advertising.
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Walter Walsh impact not enough as London and New York to meet in All-Ireland JFC decider
Former Kilkenny All-Star Walter Walsh will have to wait another season at least for an All-Ireland football medal. Not for the first time this year, the three-time MacCarthy Cup winner switched codes and had a big impact as the Cats came up just shy of London in their All-Ireland JFC semi-final. Walsh, who retired from inter-county hurling after the 2024 season, played junior rugby for Leinster earlier this year and showed his football skills with two points this time. The 2012 All-Ireland hurling final replay hero created several scores also and had two goal chances, though was ultimately powerless to prevent London winning by 1-17 to 0-17 in Abbottstown. Noel Maher's four two-point scores for London were crucial as the side managed by former London senior boss Paul Coggins advanced to Sunday's final against holders New York. Kilkenny led by 0-8 to 0-4 after a bright start, with Walsh winning the throw-in and immediately getting his county on the attack. And while London fought back to level it up at 0-8 apiece at the break, Kilkenny took off again in the third quarter with another Walsh score helping them to lead by 0-12 to 0-8. They ran out of steam in the sweltering heat though and London took advantage in the final 20 minutes, reeling off four two-pointers and a goal from Ali Carney. Maher boomed over three of those late two-pointers while Carney's goal arrived in the 43rd minute for the All-Britain champions. Former Donegal senior and 2010 All-Ireland U-21 finalist James Carroll finished with 0-8 for Kilkenny. His last score left three in it and Kilkenny chased a goal after the siren sounded but couldn't breach London's green wall. It'll be a repeat of last year's final which New York won to claim back-to-back titles. Like London, Mick Healy's New York trailed by four points initially before coming roaring back with a strong second-half display to win their semi-final 2-12 to 1-11. Jack Gillespie was terrific for Warwickshire in the first-half and the number eight scored three points as the side beaten by London in last month's All-Britain final led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time. Warwickshire twice got the margin back out to four points in the third quarter before wilting noticeably in the heat. New York outscored Warwickshire by 2-7 to 1-2 in the closing 20 minutes with Jack Healy grabbing their first goal. Healy finished with 1-2 and took his goal well, capitalising on a strong press on Warwickshire's kick-out. Full-forward Brian Coughlan added a point for New York and finished with 0-5. New York, who beat USGAA after extra-time at the quarter-final stage, got a strong kick from subs and Colm Shalvey in particular. Shalvey struck their second goal in the 51st minute to seal it, having earlier won a free that was converted.
Irish Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tipperary clash has brought the buzz back to Kilkenny says former star
Walter Walsh says the hype has cranked up in Kilkenny with their fierce rivals Tipperary on the horizon. The counties are meeting in the Championship for the first time in six years and while much of the attention has been focused on the high octane Munster Championship this summer while Kilkenny quietly picked up a sixth Leinster title on the spin, Walsh notes a shift ahead of Sunday's encounter. The 34-year-old, who retired from Kilkenny duty after last year's Championship, says the build-up is noticeably different this week, particularly with the All-Ireland race feeling much more open after Limerick's shock elimination by Dublin. 'There's definitely more of a buzz about it and about hurling around Kilkenny,' he said. 'I suppose the way that it's Tipp as well. 'Most people expected Limerick, but now, the opportunity came with a game against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. We haven't played Tipperary since 2019. 'I think as a whole from the last four teams left, Tipperary were the last team out of the four teams to win in All-Ireland. I suppose there's a lot of hope with the other four teams and there's are going to be a relatively new All-Ireland winner as well. 'There's more hype with it and excitement within the four counties.' For the most part, Walsh hasn't been pining for days gone by following his retirement, but he has had some pangs of late. 'I didn't miss it up until maybe the Leinster final, just being at it and seeing the lads getting the Bob O'Keefe Cup, all of them going into the dressing room after that. 'That's something I missed. I suppose up until that point, honestly I haven't missed it at all. I thought I would have missed it a lot more. I suppose the training and the craic with the boys as well, being around training and that whole competitive aspect to being an inter-county hurler and playing with Kilkenny. It was only with the Leinster final I started to miss it. 'There's a good buzz around Kilkenny as well with this game against Tipperary. I'm starting to miss it. I'd love to be getting ready for an All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday.'
Irish Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Kilkenny star Walter Walsh eyeing up unlikely Croke Park return
Former Kilkenny hurling star Walter Walsh is eyeing up an unlikely return to Croke Park on All-Ireland football semi-final weekend. Walsh, who has played for Leinster junior rugby team since retiring from Kilkenny hurling duty at the end of the 2024 season, has now thrown his lot in with Kilkenny footballers. The 34 year old All Star will be part of the Cats' side which faces London on Friday week in the All-Ireland Junior Football semi-final. Win that and their final is at Croke Park two days later as the curtain raiser to the Donegal/Meath All-Ireland semi-final. 'I got asked to go in before the rugby started and I wanted to give the rugby a chance,' says Walsh, who plays as a centre in rugby. 'I said, 'Look, after rugby.' I was talking to Christy Walsh. He's a Kerry man here in Kilkenny. He's been over the senior team for the last number of years. So I went in and I played a few matches - really enjoying it. Really enjoying the football.' The Tullogher Rosbercon club man - a three-time All-Ireland winner - is also a forward in football and loves the new rules. 'I've been going up for the throw-in, so I've been drafted out midfield for that,' he continued. "In Kilkenny the (football) championship was run off in April, so I really enjoyed playing the new rules. 'I was trying to lean in to be one of the three up front, so I wouldn't have to be working back (down) the field. 'We got beaten in a quarter-final. James Stephens beat us by a point. The new rules are great. I suppose, for me, football is really enjoyable. There's maybe not as much pressure and so on. 'Even in club hurling, everything is so serious at the minute. Football, especially in Kilkenny, you go out and enjoy it. That's what I'm doing with Kilkenny football as well. 'There's a lot of very passionate people about Kilkenny football, so it's something I'm taking extremely seriously and I'm really looking forward to.' Walsh was an accomplished footballer with Good Counsel College in New Ross in his younger days. 'We won Leinsters when we were back in school, so I always love football,' he continued. "There's been a big gap in my football career - as there was in my rugby career. "I'm delighted to be back playing and it would be amazing really to play football in Croke Park. But look, we have a game to win ahead of that.'
The Irish Sun
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ex-GAA All-Star to make Leinster Rugby debut after retirement allowed him to return to second sport
FORMER Kilkenny star Walter Walsh is to make his debut for Leinster Rugby's junior team after returning to his second sport post-retirement. Still only 33, he 2 In attendance at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour Series of Croke Park for 2025 Credit: Sportsfile 2 The 6'5" man-mountain famously went from obscurity to being a household name after scoring 1-3 in the 2012 All-Ireland final replay Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription In the intervening six months he's thrown himself back into rugby for the first time in around 15 years. Speaking at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour Series of Croke Park for 2025, the three-time All-Ireland winner explained how he'd initially gone back playing with New Ross RFC. Always a towering presence on the hurling pitch, he made a similarly hefty impact at that level which then caught the eye of someone in the Leinster set-up. Explaining what is the realisation of a long-held sporting dream, he said: 'I'm doing a bit with Leinster juniors now. Read More On GAA 'They gave me a phone call there two weeks ago. They have inter-provincials, kind of a seven-week block. "So they play Ulster, Connacht and Munster. 'They're picking a panel now so I've been training with that team the last week really. It's something completely different. "I got to pull on a Leinster jersey last week and it's nice. Most read in GAA Hurling "I played a bit, we played the Defence Forces in a game and it's something I always wanted to do, pull on the Leinster jersey. 'I've been playing rugby since I was five years of age. 'That's the clean version' - Watch RTE pundits Anthony Daly & Donal Og Cusack's hilarious reaction to Clare-Cork draw "Obviously, I had a 15-year break between when I was 18 and 33 last year when I got to play again. "I didn't think I'd ever get to put on one (a Leinster jersey). But I did and that was nice for me.' CAME A LYNG WAY Upon hanging up his black and amber jersey, Cats boss Derek Lyng paid him a heartfelt tribute for his impact on and off the pitch. Lyng said: 'It's been an honour to have worked with Walter. "His towering presence both on and off the field has inspired many young hurlers and his attitude, drive and leadership has been immense. "Walter leaves us with many great memories and I wish him well in his retirement.' Kilkenny GAA chairman PJ Kenny added: 'On behalf of Kilkenny County Board and all associated with Kilkenny hurling, I would like to thank Walter for his commitment and his contributions to Kilkenny hurling over the last 13 years. "Throughout his career, Walter represented his club and county with distinction and we wish Walter the very best for the future.' After making his senior debut in 2012 aged 21, he won eight Leinster titles, four National League titles and three All-Ireland titles, as well as an All-Star in 2016.
