Rookie Walsh gunning for former Kingdom colleague Kennelly

JUST one game into his senior Aussie Rules career, Tommy Walsh is already planning to take one of the sport’s most successful Irish converts — and one of his closest friends — down a peg or two.

The All-Ireland winner impressed on his debut for AFL giants St Kilda in last weekend’s pre-season NAB Cup clashes with Brisbane and Essendon. While he admits the weekend was only a stepping stone to bigger things, Walsh already has eyes on showdown with the Sydney Swans – and Tadhg Kennelly.

Walsh said: “It would be a great experience to play against him. I’d say there’d be a few texts before that game and we wouldn’t be holding back from one another on the field. It’s just like playing with Kerry and then going back to play with your club. You play against your friends but for that hour you put friendship aside.”