Paul Geaney tips Tommy Walsh for big summer with Kerry

Kerry attacker Paul Geaney has backed team-mate Tommy Walsh to play a key role as the county attempt to retain the Sam Maguire Cup.

Walsh returned to Ireland for the current season, having spent three years with Australian rules side Sydney Swans, but as yet he has struggled to make a consistent impact with the All-Ireland champions.

The Kerins O’Rahillys clubman only started one game, against Derry, though he did score a goal off the bench against Cork. Six years ago, Tadhg Kennelly endured a similarly slow start upon his return from Sydney before coming good for championship and Geaney feels that Walsh will be well up to speed by the summer.

“A couple of weeks out injured myself and I was rusty,” he said.

“It’s just a natural progression, he’ll get there with time. Fellas often find that, when the summer comes around, it’s a different game, it’s a different style of play and I’ve no doubt that he’ll come right for us.”

Walsh’s presence, as well as the returns from injury of Colm Cooper and James O’Donoghue, add to the competition for place in the Kerry attack. Geaney, who was speaking at the UCC Sports Awards in the River Lee Hotel, is looking forward to the challenge but knows that Kerry can only benefit.

“It’s going to be tough competition now,” he said, “you just make sure you’re there to be picked, hopefully you come out on top and are able to make an impact.

“Anything can happen, there might be injuries and form can dip. All you can do is just make sure that you’re on top of your own form and fit as you can be to put yourself in the frame for selection.”

The draw with Tyrone in the final round of league games was Kerry’s last until they face Tipperary or Waterford on June 14. A similar lay-off last year didn’t unduly affect their prospects and Geaney expects the same this time around.

“It’s the same as last year so we’ll just try to stick to the same routine. The year before as well was an eight-week break as well so it’s nothing we’re not used to. There’s another seven weeks until championship, I think we’re going to Portugal like last year but we haven’t gone yet, I’m not sure when we’re going.

“We’re training away at the moment, there was a round of club championships last weekend and another round this weekend. There’ll be a round of county championships too coming up so there’s a good run of fixtures there, not like there’s a drought of games or anything.”

While Kerry avoided relegation, they conceded the joint-highest tally along with Tyrone. Geaney insists, however, that any criticisms over league displays won’t linger once championship performances are up to scratch.

“It’s always disappointing to lose games,” he said. “That’s the thing we’re unhappy with, not necessarily not making it to the knockout stages but the fact that it was there in our hands and we didn’t make the most of it.

“To be honest, I don’t know how much we have been criticised because I haven’t been reading it, I couldn’t tell you! Championship is coming up and that’s the name of the game, we just have to build towards that.”