Pictured is former Kilkenny Camogie player and Ashbourne Cup winner, Miriam Walsh, as she looks ahead to the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships semi-finals and finals this weekend. Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unique alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA.
By Cian O’Connell
“It has been hard, but I suffered the two cruciates towards the end of the career, so the body was kinda giving up, I'm expecting my first child so I've other things to look forward to now,” Miriam Walsh says about retiring from senior inter-county camogie with Kilkenny.
Walsh served the Kilkenny cause with distinction with a memorable campaign in 2022 illustrating her worth and value as a third All-Ireland medal was secured.
Since then, though, injuries have brought significant hurdles, but Walsh wants to focus on the positives, especially what was achieved in the black and amber. “’It was so mentally challenging,” she says about the cruciate issues.
“When I got the Player of the Year in 2022, I thought my career was only starting at 26 years of age. Unfortunately, then I suffered the two cruciates, back to back.
“That was so tough mentally and really hard, but I try not to focus on that, I'm happy reached the pinnacle with the Player of the Year and the All-Stars and All-Irelands. I try to look back on the career with a smile.”
Stepping away from Kilkenny duty has simply afforded Walsh an opportunity to reflect. “It is only now that I'd think I got Player of the Year, it is something I'm appreciating way more,” she acknowledges.
“I'm probably wishing I appreciated it even more at the time. I try to think of the good times rather than the bad.”
The fact that her Kilkenny career happened alongside cousin and Tullaroan colleague, Grace, adds to the sense of satisfaction. “I'm forever grateful to have played alongside Grace,” she says.
“We're cousins, but we go on like sisters. We'd have been marking each other a lot in training, I pushed her, and she pushed me. That is the friendship and relationship we have. Grace is a fantastic leader.
Miriam Walsh enjoyed a hugely successful career with Kilkenny. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
“Often times in training, the management would have to take us off each other in training because we were killing one another, but we got the rewards. We were pushing each other, we got the All-Irelands, that is what winners are all about.”
There was so much fun in the journey. Tullaroan’s tight knit community matters deeply. “The club had a retirement night for Grace and myself a couple of weeks ago, I'd say the whole parish was in at it in Langtons,” she beams.
“It was such a lovely night. There is a real togetherness about Tullaroan. The hurlers and the camogie players, we all grew up together, so it is a lovely club to be part of.”
A busy few months beckons for Walsh, who will return to action for Tullaroan. “I'm already looking forward to going back playing club, I can't wait,” she says.
“We're up senior, we're hitting around quarter-final stages every year, but this year I'm ready for action. I can't wait for it to come around. I'm due back with the rehab from the knee in September. So, I'm hoping to go back in with the club in September, that'd be nice.”
Sport remains a central part of the Walsh family. A childhood spent watching her totemic cousin Tommy was time spent wisely. “I remember being only young, going up to Croke Park to see Tommy,” Walsh recalls.
“We were so proud of him. We grew up with Tommy, I'd have played hurling with him in the back garden when I was only a young one.
“Even when I went through the cruciate injuries, Tommy would always text you, 'keep the head up' or 'thinking of you'. We're a close-knit family which is nice too.”
The Walsh class is permanent.