Walsh: Let kids sample all sports
IABA high performance head coach Walsh, who enjoyed huge success with Irish boxers at the London Olympics last year, partook in a number of sports in his youth and believes children should have the opportunity to sample a variety of codes.
“I think that’s absolutely the case,” he said.
“When a youngster gives up one sport in favour of another, he or she is depriving himself in a way, and I think we need to encourage them to try as many different sports as possible.
“What is needed is good management and co-operation to allow that to happen, the last adult to really combine two codes successfully was Teddy McCarthy, and that was 20 years or so ago.
“I played hurling, football and soccer at a high level until I was 18 — we lost a Leinster final to Kilkenny by a point — before I began to focus fully on boxing and I think that it helped rather than hindered me.”
Walsh was speaking at last night’s annual Cork GAA Rebel Óg Awards, where 14 monthly winners were honoured and Blackrock’s Jim Healy, a former secretary of Bórd na nÓg, became the first inductee into the hall of fame. His award was for countless years put in helping teams at all levels in the club, as well as his tireless work on the administrative side. The Wexford man pointed to his own experience as proof of the value of combining boxing and GAA.
“I grew up as a GAA man, I’d describe myself as someone who loved GAA and then realised that he was better at fighting!
“But at the same time, the skills I had learned in playing hurling and football helped me in terms of co-ordination and balance when I took up boxing seriously.
“There are a number of different sports that will complement one another, and definitely taking part in boxing and GAA can help a player.”
Of the awards scheme itself, which began this time last year, Walsh was fulsome in his praise, and hoped that it could provide a template for other organisations around the country.
“It’s great that youngsters have something like this to aim for, because at the end of the day they’re the future of the country.
“Once a child is taking part in a sport of some kind, they have an outlet, and the activity can only benefit them.”
January (joint winners): De La Salle, Macroom and Midleton CBS
February: Pa O’Callaghan (Ballyhea)
March: Kilmeen/Kilbree Juvenile GAA Club
April: St Francis College, Rochestown
May (joint winners): Sarsfields GAA and Ballincollig GAA (Féile winners)
June: Coiste Sciath na Scol
July: Cork Ladies U14 All-Ireland-winning side
August: Clonakilty U14B Hurling Team
September: Cork U16B Hurling Development Squad
October: Blackrock GAA Club
November: Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)
December: Douglas Underage GAA
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