Tommy Walsh (Kerry footballer)
Encyclopedia
Tommy Walsh is an Irish sportsman who is currently playing Australian Football in the Australian Football League
with the Sydney Swans
. He has played Gaelic football
at club level with the Kerins O'Rahilly's
club team and at inter-county level with the Kerry senior football team
. He is the son of former Kerry footballer Seán Walsh.
He was a star player for the Kerry team which reached the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
final in 2006. He made his debut for the Kerry seniors in the 2007 National Football League
, coming on as a substitute wing-forward on March 11 against Limerick
. Kerry went on to win the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
although Walsh did not appear in any championship game.
In 2008, Walsh won the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
with Kerry.
following some impressive NFL performances in the full-forward line. Walsh made his championship debut came against Clare in the Munster Senior Football Championship
, scoring a point. He did not start in the Munster final, which Kerry lost to Cork, but came on as a substitute for the last few minutes.
He regained his place and a number of impressive performances saw him named as All Stars Young Footballer of the Year.
Later in the year, having resisted previous approaches from the Australian Football League, Walsh agreed to spend one week of preseason training with Australian Rules Football club, St Kilda. Players' agent Ricky Nixon described it as a 'big coup' for the AFL and said '"I can’t tell you if he’ll want to play or stay or if he’ll be good enough but he’s definitely one of the best talents that I’ve seen." However, Walsh later withdrew from the original trial and did not travel to Australia before the recruitment deadline, although he accepted an invitation to spend some time training with St Kilda.
In 2009, Walsh suffered injury in the early part of the championship, which saw Kerry knocked out of Munster by Cork. Kerry came through the qualifiers to meet Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final, but Walsh was not on top form and was replaced before half-time. He was dropped from the team but came on as a substitute during the second half of the semi-final, and a more impressive performance saw him regain his place for the final, in which he notched up four points from play as Kerry overcame Cork.
In October 2009, Walsh finally agreed to sign a 2 year AFL contract in 2009, with St Kilda general manager Matthew Drain saying that "he has enormous talent to become an important player for St Kilda".
In October 2010 - Tommy returned to Ireland to line out for the Irish international rules team which was held in Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Ireland lost the 1st test of 2010.
In October 2011 Walsh requested and was successful in achieving a trade to the Sydney Swans
and was selected in the Ireland international rules football team
for the 2011 Series against Australia.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
with the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. He has played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
at club level with the Kerins O'Rahilly's
Kerins O'Rahilly's
Kerins O'Rahilly's are a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Tralee County Kerry, Ireland. They are based in the Strand Road area of the town. They are in Division 1 of the county league which they won in 2006, and compete in the County Championship. The club won the County Championship last in...
club team and at inter-county level with the Kerry senior football team
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
. He is the son of former Kerry footballer Seán Walsh.
Underage career
It was clear from an early stage that Walsh was a talented footballer.He was a star player for the Kerry team which reached the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
final in 2006. He made his debut for the Kerry seniors in the 2007 National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
, coming on as a substitute wing-forward on March 11 against Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. Kerry went on to win the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
although Walsh did not appear in any championship game.
In 2008, Walsh won the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
with Kerry.
Senior career
In 2008, he was selected in the team for the first game of the All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
following some impressive NFL performances in the full-forward line. Walsh made his championship debut came against Clare in the Munster Senior Football Championship
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
, scoring a point. He did not start in the Munster final, which Kerry lost to Cork, but came on as a substitute for the last few minutes.
He regained his place and a number of impressive performances saw him named as All Stars Young Footballer of the Year.
Later in the year, having resisted previous approaches from the Australian Football League, Walsh agreed to spend one week of preseason training with Australian Rules Football club, St Kilda. Players' agent Ricky Nixon described it as a 'big coup' for the AFL and said '"I can’t tell you if he’ll want to play or stay or if he’ll be good enough but he’s definitely one of the best talents that I’ve seen." However, Walsh later withdrew from the original trial and did not travel to Australia before the recruitment deadline, although he accepted an invitation to spend some time training with St Kilda.
In 2009, Walsh suffered injury in the early part of the championship, which saw Kerry knocked out of Munster by Cork. Kerry came through the qualifiers to meet Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final, but Walsh was not on top form and was replaced before half-time. He was dropped from the team but came on as a substitute during the second half of the semi-final, and a more impressive performance saw him regain his place for the final, in which he notched up four points from play as Kerry overcame Cork.
In October 2009, Walsh finally agreed to sign a 2 year AFL contract in 2009, with St Kilda general manager Matthew Drain saying that "he has enormous talent to become an important player for St Kilda".
In October 2010 - Tommy returned to Ireland to line out for the Irish international rules team which was held in Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Ireland lost the 1st test of 2010.
In October 2011 Walsh requested and was successful in achieving a trade to the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and was selected in the Ireland international rules football team
Ireland international rules football team
The Ireland International rules football team is the representative team for Ireland in international rules football, a compromise between Gaelic football and Australian rules football...
for the 2011 Series against Australia.
External links
- http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/14/GAA-Kerry-select-side-for-crunch-clash/