Tullaroan tiger braced for Banner battle

It’s hard to think of Tommy Walsh as a veteran, one of hurling’s old-stagers, yet as the Allianz Hurling League kicks off this weekend, a veteran he is.

He’s gone past the 30 mark, has six league medals to his name already, seven senior All-Ireland titles, eight Leinsters and nine All Star awards to become one of the most decorated players the sport has ever seen.

And yet again, you look at him and the freshness is still there, not just his features but his eagerness for another season. He has a friskiness you’d expect more from the kids on the Clare team Kilkenny meet in Cusack Park tomorrow than from a guy who has done it all over and over and over again.