Walsh is the next DJ

PROPORTIONATE to its population and size, Kilkenny has produced more hurling superstars than any other county – now comes news of another.

Just as DJ Carey assumed the mantle of greatness worn for many years with such grace by Eddie Keher and even as the same DJ embellishes an already honour-laden career, young Tommy Walsh emerges from the shadows, into the national spotlight.

Down in Cat country, where very little escapes the attention of the aficionados, they’ve known about him for some time, followed his progress through the ranks, from schools, colleges, through minor and U-21.

As interested as any is DJ Carey: “I would have been quoted a couple of years ago, and certainly last year, as saying that Tommy Walsh was the coming young hurler.

"He has a great future ahead of him, a super little player, very unlucky not to have made our team last year.”

A natural corner-back, someone ventured?

“I’d say he’s natural anywhere, but as long as he’s not a natural corner-forward I don’t care,” Carey joked.

Even in the last two weeks, the versatility to which Carey referred has been much in evidence.

Last Tuesday week, Walsh played corner-back for UCC against CIT in the semi-final of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Despite being on the losing side, the 20-year-old gave a man-of-the-match display in subduing the very real threat posed by Cork’s Kieran Murphy, of the Sars club.

Late in the game, with a goal needed by UCC, Walsh was moved forward and almost got a decisive shot through what had been an utterly dominant defence.

Last Sunday week he made his league debut for Kilkenny, a big win over Waterford, another sterling display at corner-back.

Against Galway in Nowlan Park last Sunday, his latest outing, current All-Star corner-back Michael Kavanagh back to full fitness.

Walsh was asked to fill the midfield shirt worn with such distinction by last year’s All-Ireland-winning captain Andy Comerford.

His response? A swashbuckling four-point five-star man-of-the-match display in another decisive Kilkenny win, leaving Galway manager Conor Hayes frustrated but impressed.

“We were in trouble in midfield all through. Tommy Walsh was particularly good for them. We tried two or three players on him, couldn’t do a lot with him.”

Oh how the crowd loved it, every touch by the blond baby-faced youngster greeted with gasps and cheers.

Even Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, not one given to hype, had to concede that come championship time he will be posed a question.

“The league team is all that matters for the moment, Laois on Sunday, game to game,” he said.

“The championship team will develop as we go along and I have a very open mind with regard to the make-up of that.

He’s obviously a player with a lot of potential. The worst thing that can happen now is that too much is made of his display today. It was a decent display. He chipped in with four points, which is very good for a midfielder. He’s a serious hurler but he’ll have to keep working at it.”

Cody is concerned, and rightly so, that too much hype will affect the youngster, but it should be remembered that a team-mate of young Walsh’s in the last St Kieran’s side to win the Colleges All-Ireland in 2000 is already an established star.

From across the border in Mullinahone, Eoin Kelly is only a year older but was an All-Star last year, young player of the year in 2001 as he top-scored for Tipperary on their way to All-Ireland success.

Kelly was the last ‘sure thing’, and he has confirmed that valuation.

On all known form, Tommy Walsh of famed Tullaroan, is just as certain.