Tommy Walsh calls time on football career with Kerins O'Rahillys
Walsh's departure at the age of thirty seven was announced by Club PRO Pat Flavin early today (Wednesday).
The club statement began "Tommy Walsh's retirement from football marks the end of an era for Kerry and for Gaelic games. A player whose career spanned continents and generations, Walsh leaves behind a legacy defined by power, poise, and an unwavering commitment to his teams.
"Tommy burst on the scene as a towering midfielder on the Kerry minor team of 2006 reaching the All-Ireland minor final before losing to Roscommon after a replay."
The statement continued, 'He was called into the Kerry senior panel in 2007 but had to wait until the following year to make his senior championship debut where, following All-Ireland success with the Kerry U21s, his efforts to add a senior medal were thwarted by Tyrone when Kerry lost in the final.
"His powerful displays however, were enough to earn him the Young Footballer of the Year award, not just a recognition of his individual brilliance but also a sign of the immense promise he held — it validated the buzz around him and affirmed he was one of the brightest young prospects in the game.
"Tommy garnered his Celtic Cross in fine style the following year when Kerry defeated Cork in the All-Ireland final, with Tommy kicking four points from play, two with either foot.
Walsh playing for Kerry in 2021. File picture: James Crombie/Inpho
"Tommy then departed his beloved Strand Road in October 2009 and played professional Aussie Rules with St Kilda and later the Sydney Swans but his progress was blighted by injury.
'After five years abroad, Walsh returned to his roots in 2014, to his beloved Strand Road. His presence was more than symbolic — he brought back experience, leadership, and a renewed hunger to contribute to the famed blue and white.
"Tommy was brought back into the Kerry senior squad in 2015 by Eamonn Fitzmaurice and played with Peter Keane in 2019 when Kerry lost to Dublin after a replay. He came off the bench in the much discussed and delayed All-Ireland semi-final of 2021 against Tyrone.
But it is with his club that he enjoyed one of his finest seasons in 2022, as the statement outlines 'Tommy was named Man of the Match in the 2022 Munster Club Final, leading Kerins O'Rahillys with a commanding performance that blended grit, grace, and game intelligence. ……The ensuing All-Ireland semi final vs. eventual winners, Kilmacud Crokes, was the culmination of countless years in Strand Road, shared dreams and standing shoulder to shoulder with the very lads who knew him best.
"From Strand Road to the stadiums of Sydney, his journey was one of courage, class, and commitment. Retirement may close the chapter, but his story will echo in Kerry lore for years to come. Thanks Tommy — a true legend of Strand Road', the statement concluded.
His final club game was in the Intermediate quarter-final against a David Clifford-led Fossa before a full house in Strand Road but his final championship game was with St Brendan's in the County SFC quarter-final when the Tralee combo beat Kenmare Shamrocks 0-16 to 0-14.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Liam Cahill opens up on inspiring message received from Dillon Quirke's father
Liam Cahill has revealed how an emotional message from Dillon Quirke's father inspired Tipp to today's All-Ireland win Former Tipp hurler Quirke, 24, died suddenly in 2022 when playing for his club Clonoulty-Rossmore - devastating Cahill and the wider Tipp hurling community. And this morning Dillon's father - Dan Quirke - messaged Cahill, inspiring the manager to mastermind one of the great hurling comeback stories of all time. Tipp trailed by six points at half time and then ended up winning 3-27 to 1-18, with Cork scoring a paltry two points in the second half. After their 15-point win, Cahill said: 'Dillon is with us every day. When we started out on this journey in 2023, we were all hit with the devastating tragedy of what happened to him. 'I was 50 yards from it, the day it happened in Semple Stadium, and I'll never forget it. And it had a huge effect on our dressing-room. 'It was a really difficult year, 2023 - and 2024 - around everybody trying to cope with it in their own way. Like today, I got a text from Dan, his Dad, coming up the road to wish me luck. And I just said that Dillon will be on all our shoulders today, regardless of what happens in the result. 'And, you know, he should be with us today. But the legacy he's leaving and the work that he's doing to save lives across Ireland at the moment through his name and the foundation is just incredible. 'And today I never flinched at any stage on the line. Once he was across my chest, I knew that we would be battling right to the end. And I'm just so proud to have had an input into his life for the short number of years he was with us.' Dillon Quirke Cahill paid tribute to 19-year-old Darragh McCarthy, who scored 1-13 just two weeks after he picked up the second red card of his season. 'That's the class of the man,' said Cahill. 'You know, we produce legendary players like Jason (Forde) and Eoin Kelly and (Seamus) Callanan. 'And you realise they can't be hanging around forever and you'll say 'where are you going to find the next one'? And suddenly up pops McCarthy, 19 years of age. 'But from a serious club up there in Toomevara – them fellas up there would eat you alive. So, there was never going to be a case of Darragh's character being questioned or him doubting himself. 'That's the resilience he has. And he just loves his hurling. And when you love hurling like that, you get your rewards - and he got his just reward today and I'm really, really happy for him.'
Irish Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tipperary fans in blue and gold heaven after crushing Cork in thrilling final
Tipperary fans were in blue and gold heaven on Sunday after their side crushed Cork in one of the most thrilling All-Ireland hurling finals ever seen at Croke Park. It was the triumph of hope over expectations as the underdogs came from behind to prove the bookies got it wrong to bring the Liam McCarthy trophy back to the county where the GAA began. Despite being massively outnumbered by Cork supporters it was Tipperary fans who were singing as the strains of "Slievenamon" blared out over the PA system as the match ended. The bookies had tipped Cork as firm favourites and reckoned that the Rebels were about to fulfil their destiny after coming so close but losing out by an extra time final point to Clare last year. But in one of the greatest second half performances ever seen in an All-Ireland hurling final Tipperary blew away the Rebels whose cause looked increasingly lost as the minutes ticked away. There were emotional scenes as Tipperary captain Ronan Maher paid tribute to the former player Dillon Quirke. After paying tribute to his teammates, Cork and the staff at Croke Park, Maher took a moment to remember his teammate who passed away three years ago at the age of 24 during a club match due to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. "To one player who is no longer with us but is so much a part of what we are, Dillon Quirke..." said Maher before a huge round of applause rang out around Croke Park. He added: 'We carried your spirit with us every step of the way. You were in the dressing room, you were on the field of play, you were in our hearts. 'And we hope we did you and your family proud today.' Tipperary manager Liam Cahill became visibly upset, as his captain paid tribute to the late hurler. Tipperary captain Ronan Maher lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup A foundation in Dillon Quirke's name was set up after the young man's death in 2022. By the end of 2024, the foundation had helped more than 10,000 people get heart scans. While there were many complaints about a scarcity of tickets in the run up to the match it would appear that Cork fans didn't have many problems acquiring them. Entire tracts of the stands at Croker were a wall of red while there were just smatterings of blue and gold around the famous arena. However, as the second half progressed and Tipp racked up the scores it was those clad in blue and gold who were making all the noise. On the face of it all the evidence pointed to Cork ending their All-Ireland famine after two decades in the wilderness but Tipp's second half ambush put paid to that. Praising the honesty of his players, Tipp manager Cahill said that he never doubted they would make a comeback in the second half. Tom Grennan, Rachael Blackmore and Paul Mescal (Image: BBC) He said: "The honesty of that group of players, I never doubted them. I know we're all a little sensitive after what happened last year and some of the criticism was probably deserved. "But I knew the quality of these men, got in among them and started supporting them better and got them believing again. I knew we'd have a great opportunity to lift the spirits of the Tipperary people again.' It was also an emotional day for young Tipperary hero Darragh McCarthy who put his red carding in the semi-final behind him to put in one of the greatest sharpshooting performances witnessed at Croker in recent years. With a tally of 1-13 he has been hailed by fans as one of the inspirations behind the comeback to beat all comebacks. Cork's Robert Downey dejected after the game Showing a coolness well beyond his 19 years he revealed that going in six points down at half time was no big deal. He said: 'The conversation was all positive. We planned for that. We had said during the week that listen if we're five or six down at half time, we're not going to panic here. "We know what we're capable of. We've came from worse margins before.' He was spot on as Tipp put Cork to the sword in a pulsating second half that saw the Premier County live up to its name. It looked to be all Cork in the first half as it seemed the Rebels' experience would win out as Tipp began to make unforced errors and missed several good chances. The sides were three times level in the first half and then that golden goal by Shane Barrett on the stroke of the halftime whistle looked as if it and the six point margin it created would be too much for Tipp. Tipperary's Craig Morgan, Jake Morris and Darragh McCarthy celebrate after the game But the second half was the stuff of GAA history when the underdogs came from behind to crush Cork's resistance and leave them yearning for another year to take the McCarthy Cup back to the banks of the Lee. Tipp manager Cahill illustrated that the comeback was so shocking by saying: "My mother has probably swallowed her rosary beads and my father has probably the cows milked three times with nervousness. I'm so thrilled for everybody. "So thrilled for supporters, the whole shebang." Blue and gold fans went wild when the final whistle was blown as well-known faces such as Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal, English singer Paul Mescal and jockey Rachael Blackmore were all in attendance. Olympian sprinter Sharlene Mawsley was also spotted cheering for her Tipp boyfriend Michael Breen. The loved-up couple posed for photos with the Liam MacCarthy cup, as Sharlene kissed her All-Ireland winning boo. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Times
7 minutes ago
- Irish Times
‘Rory did win. He brought the Open to Portrush': Standing ovation for local hero McIlroy
All week, all month, all year, Portrush has talked about only one winner of the Open : Rory McIlroy . Though it was not to be for McIlroy, who tied for seventh place – the claret jug went to the world number one Scottie Scheffler – in the end, nobody really minded. As McIlroy walked on to the 18th hole in the Sunday evening sun, he did so to a standing ovation; there were Irish flags, Northern Irish flags, and everywhere, people were on their feet, showing their appreciation for their hero by applauding him home. 'None of us could live with what he [Scheffler] had this week,' McIlroy told the media afterwards, 'but for me, to be in front of everyone here at home and to get that reception up the last, absolutely incredible. I'll remember that for a long time.' READ MORE [ The Open Day Four: Scottie Scheffler cruises to victory at Royal Portrush - as it happened ] 'Rory did win,' said Brian McDermott, from Moville, Co Donegal. 'He brought the Open to Portrush. The Open would not be here without him, so that is a win. 'Six years ago, he missed the cut, so to get him, and to watch him, and to see him finish – that is a win. Brian McDermott, from Moville, Co Donegal at the Open Championship, Portrush. Photograph: Freya McClements 'Seeing him come into the 18th, and everybody in that grandstand get up and applaud him – that is a win, for Ireland and for Rory McIlroy.' There have been many winners from this Open; add to that list Royal Portrush Golf Club, the town of Portrush, and Northern Ireland. Though official figures are yet to follow, the predictions themselves were impressive: an economic boost to Northern Ireland of £213 million just from Open week alone. Yet this does not include the impact that will continue to be felt for a long after the Open has packed up and left town. Just one example is the announcement by the Galgorm hotel group that it is to spend more than £30 million creating a new golf course at Bellarena, Co Derry – around half an hour from Royal Portrush – an investment which it said will 'help to cement the region's reputation as a world-class golfing destination'. At Royal Portrush, 'I reckon it's going to take us into the top 10 in the world now in the rankings,' said the club's ladies captain, Naoimh Quigg, while there is also the prospect of the first Open ever to be held south of the Border, potentially through the inclusion of Portmarnock in Co Dublin on the Open roster. 'They're already talking about Portmarnock because we've been so successful here, and that conversation down South, moving it out of the UK, that's positive, and it's going to be great for the South, for Dublin, for the whole of the country,' she said. As the spectators drift towards the exits, there is the hope that the Open will also come back to the north coast; in the clubhouse, 'we're looking forward to getting back to what we do best, which is being Royal Portrush Golf Club again, and getting to play our course. 'Personally, I would love to see a world class women's event here, either the AIG Women's Open or the Curtis Cup ... to showcase a world class women's event in this country would be, I think, the next positive move for this club to work towards,' said Quigg. 'For a small country to be able to achieve what we've achieved, and as a town, for us to host this and put this on – I was thinking, if this does come back, it's scary to think how big we could go.' The anticipation has begun – and maybe, next time, McIlroy might lift that claret jug after all.
