Walsh wants no more final regrets

Growing up in Cromane, Donnchadh Walsh had no ambition to play for Mid Kerry.

Club and county was the dream, no different to any other youngster in the Kingdom.

In 1997, a 13-year-old Donnchadh Walsh was selected for the Mid Kerry U14 team. The opposition was now provided by Dr Crokes, Austin Stacks and An Ghaeltacht, a far cry from underage encounters against Keel, Beaufort and Glenbeigh/Glencar.

Walsh marvelled at the sharp rise in standard. “Mid Kerry opened my eyes to the standard of club football in Kerry. It was like this other world I didn’t know existed,” he recalls.

“I won a county championship at U14 where we beat the likes of Crokes and Stacks. From that, I had the goal to win a county senior medal with Mid Kerry. ”

In 2002, Walsh made his senior club debut, lining out at wing-forward against Shannon Rangers.

“We won, and the game was played on my home field of Cromane.

“It was six years before we reached the county senior final. I have but fond memories of that final in 2008.”

Sitting in the stand that cold December Sunday in Tralee was Pa Kilkenny of Glenbeigh. Never will he forget the roar of the Mid Kerry fans when Aidan O’Shea’s 63rd minute penalty shook the Kerins O’Rahillys net.

In the summer of 2011, Kilkenny was called up to the Mid Kerry team.

“I was stepping into a side littered with inter-county players. The likes of Donnchadh, Darran and Seán O’Sullivan were fantastic welcoming me in.

“We all realise Mid Kerry provides our only avenue to win a county championship. ”

Mid Kerry returned to the decider in the autumn of ’11. The game was effectively over as a contest by half-time, Crokes ahead by 1-4 to 0-1.

Fast forward to this June, where the divisional side overcame St Kieran’s to secure their first championship win in three years.

“The change of management has been crucial,” says Walsh.

“James Sheehan was in charge in 2008. His experience of having won a county championship, his experience of having won with so many of the players that are still around is crucial. Then the addition of the younger players who won the U21 championship last year was key.”

Continued Walsh: “I had regrets walking off the field in 2011. We hope Sunday won’t pass us by. We can’t have any more regrets.”