Former Kilkenny hurler Tommy Walsh
By John Harrington
Kilkenny hurling legend Tommy Walsh believes the Interprovincials should be persevered with despite the apathy of the GAA public.
Leinster play Munster in the Interprovincial hurling final tonight at Semple Stadium (7.45pm), but even though some of the greatest stars of the game will be involved, it’s not expected to attract a big crowd.
As a competition it might not capture the public’s imagination, but Walsh insists the players still relish the opportunity to represent their province.
“It should definitely be left there because the players for one don’t get to meet each other that often and when you get to meet players from other counties on a Railway Cup competition it’s brilliant because you get to I suppose tell stories, see how each other are preparing yourselves," says Walsh.
“It’s good because instead of tearing lumps out of each other every Sunday you get to play with them for once!”
The GAA have tried to revive the Interprovincials by playing them outside of the country and at different times of the year, but still the competition fails to attract a crowd.
Walsh believes that’s down to the fact that both the inter-county and club championships dominate the GAA calendar as well as the hearts and minds of supporters to a greater extent than they ever did.
“I’d say if you were to go back and really look at it, it was probably (popular) before teams got so professional in their preparation," he says.
“I’d say back in the day when the Railway cup was going really well, I’d say teams went back training in March, April, May whereas now you’ve guys training in November and December trying to get everything right, everything is geared towards the small percentage to win a match.
“Then throw in the AIB club championships, which is just as important, I wouldn’t say they were around back then, like they’re so serious now that from a spectator’s point of view it’s probably going to be hard to reinvent it.
“I don’t know the answers but I’m sure everyone wants the Railway Cup to work and everyone is putting in the thoughts behind how to make it work and while I think it’s important to say that it’s not working from a spectator’s viewpoint, I’d say it’s still working from a players’ viewpoint, I’d say players are still having a ball playing it.”
**Tommy Walsh was speaking at the launch of the event, 'Leadership in Sport. Lessons for Business' which will take place at the InterContinental Hotel, Dublin on Thursday January 26, 2017, at 12.30pm. **
