'A great way to go into Christmas' — Aidan Walsh ready for All-Ireland semi after sealing special double

Aidan Walsh in action for An Ghaeltacht. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Aidan Walsh completed a unique double of Munster intermediate medals at the weekend.

Back in 2017, the former Cork dual star won a provincial hurling title with his home club, Kanturk.

Now going by Aidan Breathnach, he captured a matching football crown at the weekend with his adopted club, An Ghaeltacht.

At this stage of his career, the 35-year-old didn’t think he’d be back battling for a Croke Park return once more.

“At my age now, to get the opportunity to play an All-Ireland semi-final, it might never come around again, so I'm just really going to enjoy it and put myself in a position to get the most out of myself,” said Walsh.

“The year that Gaeltacht lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Moy, we were on the other side in the hurling, and we won the All-Ireland intermediate that year. So definitely, if I can give any bit of help or advice to the players, I will.

“It's a great way to go into Christmas, looking forward to an All-Ireland semi-final at the start of January.

“An Ghaeltacht are crying out to try and achieve something at this stage of it, because they've had misfortune on the occasions they have got this far, so we'll get the heads down and really go hard for it.

“I never thought I'd be back in this position again, so I'm very fortunate.”

Walsh feels lucky to have landed into An Ghaeltacht for such a successful year. They’ve captured Kerry and Munster Intermediate silverware and beaten senior champions Dingle for the West Kerry title.

“I've really enjoyed this year,” said Walsh. “It's a very passionate club. They love their football. I'm just very lucky to have come into the club where they're at the start of a trajectory.

“Ten minors came into the group this year. It's a very young team. I'm 35, 36 next month, and the next oldest is only 31, so it's a young group, and that's very exciting.

“Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich and a few more, they were like, they've played for seven, eight years, and I have the same amount of medals as they have. There’d be a bit of banter over that, but it's pure luck really.

“You see younger fellas, minors, playing so well. To see them, it makes you want to continue on and keep going and just enjoy it as much as possible.

“The subs we brought on really made a big difference as well, which is huge, because if you want to win championships, if you want to win the Munsters or All-Irelands, you need to have a strong panel. We do have that, so we'll see what happens.”

Walsh’s midfield partner Cathal Ó Beaglaoich got some National League game time with Kerry this spring.

They complement each other well, with Walsh sitting and Ó Beaglaoich advancing for four points, including a towering two-pointer, in their Munster final victory over Aghabullogue.

“He's a serious player,” said Walsh. “He's powerful, a massive man. We're a good balance.

“I'm more on the defensive side, he's more on the attacking side, so it's good to get that balance.

“Definitely happy enough to sit back there. At times, the legs were struggling big time. I definitely felt all the 35 years in that game.

“I’ll sit down now and see where I can get the legs moving a bit faster, because it's only going to get faster again in the next round.”