Walsh sticking with St Kilda

TOMMY WALSH will not make a sensational return to Kerry football next season as he is set to sign a new contract with his AFL club St Kilda.

The former Young Footballer of the Year yesterday confirmed: “I’ll be in Australia next year. That’s for certain. But I don’t know too much more than that at this stage. I haven’t signed anything yet, and we’ll see what happens.

The former Kerry star, who trained with the Irish International Rules team on Saturday, made a winning return to gaelic football yesterday as he kicked two points in Kerins O’Rahillys’ 0-13 to 0-9 victory over An Ghaeltacht in a vital Kerry SFL match in Tralee.

He admitted: “It’s great to be back. This was a big game for us because we needed the two points. This is what I miss the most when I am in Australia so to come home, put on the Strand Road jersey again and play with the lads is great.”

Walsh, who started in midfield but moved to full forward early in this relegation contest, kicked his scores inside the opening 10 minutes.

Walsh’s former Kerry team-mate Marc Ó Sé was then moved back to counteract his influence but the returning Kerins O’Rahillys man remained a constant threat as the Tralee club, thanks to 0-4 from Declan Quill and 0-3 from Barry John Keane, guaranteed their top flight status for next season.

With just one round left in the league, this loss leaves An Ghaeltacht, joint bottom of the table on six points along with Annascaul (who beat Laune Rangers 1-15 to 1-12) facing relegation. Just one point above the bottom duo sit Laune Rangers and Gneeveguilla (who lost 0-12 to 0-8 at home to Austin Stacks yesterday), and two of these four clubs will be relegated.

Meanwhile, league leaders and division one finalists Dingle are still awaiting to discover their final opponents with Austin Stacks and Rathmore battling for the spot. It’s currently advantage Stacks as they are on 15 points, just one ahead of Rathmore, who beat Legion 2-16 to 0-10. Stacks are away to Dingle in their final game, which could be a warm-up to the league decider, while Rathmore must travel to a Laune Rangers side in a relegation scrap.

St Michaels/Foilmore hammered an under-strength Dr Crokes 1-16 to 0-4, while Dingle maintained their impressive league form as they defeated Ardfert 2-12 to 2-7.