Fears fires Walsh

The pain of defeat is the main motivation for Tommy Walsh, writes Jim O’Sullivan

LIKE all great sportsmen, Tommy Walsh isn’t motivated by success — fear of failure is the constant spur in his quest for hurling honours.

Since 2002, Walsh has stamped himself on the consciousness of the hurling public, winning three All-Ireland SHC medals, four consecutive Allstar awards in four different positions — midfield, left-corner back, left-half forward and left-half back along with League, Walsh Cup and U-21 triumphs.

However, he is quick to point out that everything hasn’t been rosy in the garden.

In between his second and third senior medals, he endured the pain of defeat in two finals.

The 2004 final especially was a bitter experience — and one which still motivates him.

“We have had a few good years, but we were beaten years as well. It was definitely not all rosy in the garden. I was lucky in the first two years we won two All-Irelands, but after that we lost two.

“After that you wonder if you are ever going to win again, but we came back last year. And it’s going to be 10 times tougher this year.’’

Their defeat to Cork in the 2004 decider was hard to take — not because they had been denied the three-in-a-row — but by the manner of defeat.

“We were wiped off the field that day. We had nothing in us, it was very tough to take. We trained hard and we thought we were ready. But, we just weren’t. I don’t know what was wrong, things like that happen in games. It’s not too bad when you give everything and you’re beaten fair and square.’’

He is adamant that it wasn’t a question that Kilkenny hadn’t enough left in the tank after producing an absolutely superb display against Galway (4-20 to 1-10) in the semi-final.

“It wasn’t a case of peaking, sometimes things go well for you. And, everything clicked for us that day.’’

A graduate of UCC and now working with Bank of Ireland Insurances & Investments, Walsh has had other disappointments. Notably, he was sent off against Clare in the drawn quarter-final game of 2004. “It would have been terrible for me if we had lost because you did something stupid yourself. When the team drew it wasn’t so bad. I remember afterwards, Brian Cody and Peter Barry, who was captain, said some very nice things to me that definitely lifted my spirits.’’

But, at club level, he has found it devastating to be on the losing side with Tullaroan in the last six quarter-finals of the county championship. “That draws a lot of hurt,’’ he explains. “You try to pick yourself up each time and it’s great coming back (with Kilkenny) in February if you can try and release some of that hurt. It would mean absolutely everything to go out and win a county final — even to get to one to start with.’’ With all the different teams he has played with, he has filled so many positions. Right now, on the national stage he’s consolidating his reputation as one of the finest wing-backs in the game.

And he’s happy to be there.

“I love the backs. You don’t know where you’re ever going out to play, whether it’s with Tullaroan or Kilkenny. But, it brings a hell of a lot of freshness to you. You go out to give everything, no matter where you are picked. I don’t mind, but I prefer the backs.’’

These days Tullaroan are deploying him at centre forward. During his college days, he operated between midfield and half forward.

“I absolutely loved it. We used to train three or four times at week at 9am. You were basically living with the players. You have heard a lot about the Fitzgibbon Cup, well it’s an absolutely brilliant competition. It brings you on as regards your preparation, how you set yourself for games — the best team spirit. I suppose that’s where it starts. I enjoyed my years there, some of the best years of my life. When I went there first, Paddy Crowley was the manager. I remember him saying: ‘This is the step-up, this is inter-county hurling,’ like League pace. If you can do it in the Fitzgibbon you have a great chance of doing it when you get to senior inter-county level.’’

Wexford, again, will be seen as the main obstacle to Leinster final success, but Walsh says it’s not the approach of Brian Cody or his players to look beyond their next match. That’s against Offaly in Portlaoise on Sunday in the Leinster semi-final.

“Brian breeds it into you, you have to look at one game at a time,’’ he states.

“When we met Offaly in February they gave us a hard time. No matter what experience they have or have not, if you’re fresh and hungry you’re going to give the team you’re playing against an awful battle.’’