Patience finally paying off for Kingdom star Walsh

DONNCHADH WALSH’S path to a starting spot on the Kerry team has been a long one.

He’s had to be patient waiting in the wings while Tadgh Kennelly, Darran O’Sullivan and Paul Galvin kept him out of successive Kingdom starting line-ups.

But this has been his year. With Galvin sidelined for the foreseeable future with hamstring problems and Kennelly back in Australia, he was given the chance to nail down his starting spot.

“I had never really nailed down a jersey that I could say was mine the Tuesday or Thursday night before any game,” he said.

“I was always nervous because I was never certain of a jersey so I was disappointed but I took it well I think and I made a contribution when I came on early in the second half for Tadgh Kennelly so once we won, I was happy for everyone.

“The modern wing-forward is actually a very tough position to play in. It is also a role that you get better at as you get older and more experienced.

“It’s a role where you have to get a lot cleverer in your running and you must also learn how to gamble. Even Paul Galvin called me aside this year and said that he thought that I was getting more into my role each year — each year I was getting better.

“I think I have been improving over the past couple of years and I can see myself adapting even better to the role of modern number 12 over the next few years so I still have things to learn.”

Tomorrow will provide a steep learning curve. He’ll be asked to stop a foraging Cork half-back line from marauding up field and steeling possession.

He knows Cork are the team to beat in this year’s championship though and they will be looking to set a marker in Killarney.

“Look, we are always confident that we can beat Cork in Killarney but Cork will probably be using that stat to try and get that particular monkey off their back.

“I would speculate that they probably sent themselves a few goals this year and beating Kerry down in Killarney is probably near the top of their agenda. So while we might look at a decent home record against Cork, they will be trying to set the record straight in Killarney and that could give them a slight edge.”

Adding to the pressure of the day, it will be his birthday tomorrow but the Cromane clubman, who will be 27, won’t eat any cake if Cork beat them.

“Well it will have to be put in the fridge until after 4pm on Sunday and if we win it will taken out but if we lose then it will probably be put in cold storage.”