Donnchadh Walsh

Donnchadh Walsh
Donnchadh Walsh in the Cromane GAA Club colours.
Personal information
Irish name Donnchadh Breathnach
Sport Gaelic football
Position Left Half Forward
Born (1984-07-03) 3 July 1984 (age 40)
Tralee, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Occupation Physiotherapist
Club(s)
Years Club
2001–
 Réalt na Mara, Cromane
Colleges(s)
Years College
 RCSI
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2003–2018
 Kerry 52 (3-39)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 8
All-Irelands 3
NFL 2
All Stars 1

Donnchadh Walsh (born 3 July 1984) is an Irish Gaelic footballer. He is a midfielder and forward and plays for his local Cromane club, the Mid Kerry divisional side and, formerly, at senior level for the Kerry county team, which he played for from 2003 to 2018.

Playing career

Minor

Walsh was described as a 'star' and a 'teen sensation' for Kerry in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.[1] He won the Munster Minor Football Championship with Kerry in 2001[2] and 2002.[3]

Under 21

He later moved on to the Kerry Under 21 team. He first played during the 2003 Munster championship, coming on as a sub during wins over Limerick and Tipperary.[4]

Inter-county

Early years

He was first selected for the senior squad in 2003.[1] Despite his status as a highly promising player,[3] Walsh did not make the breakthrough to All-Ireland Senior Football Championship football with Kerry until 2008. However, he was being tipped to feature for the Kerry seniors following an excellent 2007 season in the Kerry Senior Football Championship with Mid Kerry. He was also given his chance in the 2008 National Football League.[5]

2008–2013

His first Munster Senior Football Championship game came in the final in July 2008. Walsh started and scored 1–1, but Cork defeated Kerry with a second-half comeback.

The following year, he won his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal after Kerry beat Cork.

He was part of the team in 2011 when Kerry lost to Dublin in the All-Ireland final thanks to a brilliant match-winning point by Stephen Cluxton. This was to be the beginning of Dublin's dominance of Gaelic football.

In 2013, Walsh scored a goal past Cluxton in an epic All-Ireland semi-final between Kerry and Dublin in an eventual Dublin win.[6]

2014–2018

In 2014, Kerry defied the odds to claim their 36th All-Ireland in a prolific year for the Kingdom with Walsh performing well throughout the season.[7]

The one thing that had eluded Walsh was an All-Star and, in 2015, he was finally rewarded with the honour.[8]

In September 2018, Walsh announced his retirement from inter-county football. In his statement, he said: "The greatest honour I ever could’ve imagined has been pulling on the green and gold jersey but, as with all good things, it must come to an end. That end has arrived."[9][10] Walsh was lauded for releasing his retirement statement on Cromane GAA's social media platforms.[11]

Post-playing career

In April 2021, Kerry hurling manager Fintan O'Connor announced that Walsh would act as lead physio for his team.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Gaelic Football: Walsh Ready To Take a Big Step Up With Kerry". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 13 May 2012. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "MUNSTER MFC FINAL". Irish Independent. 15 July 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b "The Kingdom – 2002/08/29: GAA: Royal shock for Kerry Minors". The Kingdom. 29 August 2002. Archived from the original on 18 May 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Terrace Talk :: Kerry Football :: 2003 U21".
  5. ^ "Mayo 0–16 Kerry 1–12". RTÉ Sport. 16 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  6. ^ McCarthy, JP (2 January 2014). "Walsh won't stand still in glory quest". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  7. ^ O'Connell, Cian (21 September 2018). "Donnchadh Walsh retires from inter-county football". Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Dublin and Kerry win big at GAA All Stars". Irish Examiner. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  9. ^ "'Machine-like' Donnchadh Walsh calls time on Kerry career". RTÉ Sport. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  10. ^ Corry, Michael (21 September 2018). "Kerry's most underrated star Donnchadh Walsh retires at 34". JOE.ie. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Donnchadh Walsh: 'I am retiring from Kerry inter-county football with a lifetime of memories'". Cromane GAA Facebook. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Donnchadh Walsh returns to Kerry fold – as senior hurling physio". Irish Independent. 21 April 2021.