Walsh ready to bring Gaelic revival to Yeats County

HE retired in 2004, but Kevin Walsh will be remembered as a giant among midfielders, a player with a commanding presence who made a major contribution to Galway’s last two All-Ireland successes in 1998 and 2001. Now, he has taken the bold step of going into inter-county management with Sligo, after a short stint with his club and a brief involvement with the Galway ladies team.

He twice managed Killanin and while he got them to a county final, he experienced the same disappointment as he did in his playing days about 10 years ago when they lost in Tuam Stadium to Corofin on a wet and cold day.

However, he’s not in the least bit inhibited about the challenge facing him to manage, and for now, to train the team.

Conversely, he recognises the huge task of trying to get things back on track, appreciating that achieving a level of consistency is the real issue for a county which basked in the glory of a long overdue Connacht title win in 2007 but which went downhill subsequently. And now they are in Division Four, facing Kilkenny in Markievicz Park on Sunday in their opening Allianz League game.

Walsh, who left his job in the gardaí two years ago to go into construction, believes that the experience he gained as a player over a decade and a half will stand to him. He smiled when it was put to him that he would have learned a lot from John O’Mahony, now back with his native Mayo, explaining: “I would have. John’s era was a winning era, I suppose. But, I would have learned an awful lot more in the 11 bad years before that as well.

“I don’t forget them. Maybe they made me appreciate the winning years better. Those are the kind of things I’m hoping that I can bring to Sligo. There is a lot of talk about managerial experience but probably some of the stuff that I have experienced in the 17 years playing would probably be more than some managers would have experienced.’’

Offering no view on the effect on the turnover of managers since Mickey Moran left, one of his first priorities will be to build up a relationship between players and selectors. “The first thing you have to do is have 30 happy people in a dressing room,’’ he commented. “You can have all the talent in the world but if you are not ready to come out as a group, then you are not going to win anything!’’

It was an approach from one of the Sligo players which led to his decision to come on board.

It was all hush-hush at the time. He only agreed to get involved once he was sure that he would be able to give it the commitment he understood it would demand. “When you take these jobs you want to be sure you can give it 100%,’’ he added.

Without actually saying that it will be less stressful playing in the bottom division, he needs time to get the team playing the way he wants. He shares the view of other managers in his position who complained about the ban on team training in November and December.

“The break didn’t suit me,’’ he said, pointing out that because some of the players were involved with their colleges (in the FBD League), Sunday will the first time that he will have all of the squad available.

He has no doubt that the potential is there to make Sligo more competitive in the championship. He certainly believes they are good enough to come back and win another provincial title, after having previously waited since 1974 to make the breakthrough.

“I think they are capable of that. Even in our own ‘good’ years when I was playing myself, I think we had something like four draws in four different years with Sligo. You would never have underestimated them.

“After last year they need to get the belief back. I suppose after winning Connacht people would have said the only way was down. But even going back a few years (2002), they beat Tyrone in Croke Park and only lost narrowly to Armagh (in a replay). Most of the fellas know they are capable of much better than last year and there is no reason why they can’t get back.’’

He wonders if the team put itself under extra pressure last season in attempting to retain their title: “You have to ask: were they able to handle the aftermath of it? Maybe last year that’s what happened, I don’t know.’’

What he does know is that Sligo must be more consistent if they are to regain their stature as a team to be taken seriously.

He acknowledges the benefit of being able to call on Eamonn O’Hara, easily their most accomplished player.

He says senior players like O’Hara have an important role to play.

“I’d be hoping the older fellas will knuckle down and show the young fellas exactly what is required.’’