ictured is Allianz ambassador and former Galway Gaelic Footballer, Kevin Walsh ahead of this weekend’s GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final between Galway and Armagh.
Now in their second summer as sponsor of the competition, this season Allianz has been campaigning for children and young people to #StopTheDrop and remain involved in sport when transitioning from primary to secondary school. For more information visit https://www.allianz.ie/stopthedrop
By Cian O’Connell
For most of the time since 2009, Kevin Walsh has been involved in inter-county management and coaching.
The Killannin clubman, who was in charge of Galway between 2015 and 2019, is enjoying the build up to Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Final against Armagh.
That Walsh assisted several of the Galway players brings a sense of satisfaction too. “A lot of these players would have gone through our hands at the very start,” Walsh says.
“The U20s obviously came after us, but I suppose a lot of guys came through from our own time. Maybe we got a bit of flak at the time for changing the style of football in Galway. You take a bit of satisfaction, that is what it is, and that is what it has gone to as well to a degree.
“Some of the players would have been very young when we were there, bar a few, Paul Conroy, for instance. (Cillian) McDaid was only starting out, (Rob) Finnerty was only starting to come through, but they got a little bit of what we were trying to do at the time. Any active part you have in helping Galway football is great.”
During his playing career in maroon Walsh won two All-Irelands in 1998 and 2001, and is encouraged that Galway are back seriously competing for national honours again. “I think what is awful important, even for next Sunday, all you can do as a manager is get a team to be consistently competing to win,” Walsh responds.
“You cannot be looking at the outcomes, I think it is important that you know your team turns up every day, whether it is structures or individuals. When you walk out of the dressing room after, whether you win or lose, you know why the result came.
Kevin Walsh was part of John Cleary's backroom team with Cork. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“I think it is really important every management has a team that is consistently competing to win. It will come at some point, where everything won't go for you, a referee's decision could go against you, bad luck hitting the post could go against you, little things.”
Being ready to take an opportunity is critical according to Walsh. “All you can do is be in the arena, be actually in the arena to take something if it comes your way,” he adds. “Not be too far off them, I think that was something we always tried to do with Galway.
“That is where the top teams are at the minute because you're not guaranteed anything. We all know that. You look at Limerick this year - gone. Kerry gone. Dublin gone. Kilkenny gone. You're not guaranteed anything, but be there or thereabouts, ready to take advantage of what might go your way.”
An increasing number of people, who have previously managed at inter-county level are now ready, willing, and able to occupy coaching roles. Walsh has enjoyed a stint with Cork. “I genuinely think going forward you're going to see attacking stuff coming in now, trying to break that zone defence, that will happen,” Walsh says.
“It takes a massive amount of time and massive amount of workings to do. You can imagine, trying to manage a team of 40 players, County Board, media, KPIs given to players, mental teams, injuries - how can you do that as a coach? Even if you're a good coach and a manager, they are breaking apart to allow time to be invested in the coaching side. That is gone massive, coaching is massive at the minute.
“For me, I had 10 years managing, I had five great years in Sligo and five great years in Galway. Work suffers, everything else suffers, so it is nice to be able to step back a bit, and if you enjoy a certain section, maybe go at that for a while and give it more time.”
Walsh’s respect for Conroy runs deep as the St James’ clubman, who has featured in the Galway jersey for more than a decade and a half continues to impress. “He was a minor in '07, in '18 he had that horrific injury, the double leg break,” Walsh says.
Kevin Walsh and Paul Conroy pictured at Pearse Stadium in 2017. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
“That impacted again in 2019, it probably took about two years for him to get back to where he needed to get to. Most people would have just thrown it in at that point, but he kept going and going. He got back to where he was, which is a massive achievement.
“I think he is close to 35 now. To be still competing at that level and still kicking scores is massive. Heading into Croke Park now, and which is a big help for him, is the unearthing of the likes of John Maher, who will be beside him. I think they complement each other, on the basis of how they play.
“Paul can step in the pockets, he can kick a few points, and John Maher will just go all the time, with his cross country background. It is the longevity for Paul, he had many reasons to step aside which he didn't do. Hopefully he will get his rewards for that now.”
Walsh spent the first six months of the year training Cork and is now back involved in a coaching role with his native club Killannin, who have plenty of promising emerging footballers. “We've a lot of people gone to Australia to be honest, from that U19 team that did well last year, a lot of them will see themselves starting this year which means we will have a really, really young team,” Walsh says.
“I'm involved a little bit, hopefully we can bring something to them, that they will learn personally and that they will be ready to step up.
"Whether it is a few years that they have those skills - the mental skills or even new skills on the football field, they may not have at underage, it is important to give something back at that level.
“I don't think we will be pushing for honours this year or anything like that, but just to give a good experience as much as possible.”
