Antrim have called up a 40 years young goalkeeper to their panel and the season is over for Tommy Walsh, the Swan not the Cat.
By Declan Whooley
Age is but a number for Antrim management
Antrim will look to overturn a dismal championship record with Monaghan this weekend in Ulster and manager Frank Dawson is looking to experience as he has called up 40 year-old goalkeeper Sean McGreevy to his squad for the game as back-up to Chris Kerr.
The lads were all just glints in our daddies’ eyes the last time the Saffrons got the better of the Farney men (the 1970s), but all records are there to be broken and McGreevy will be one of the oldest men togging out for senior action this summer.
In action in 2003 against the then All-Ireland champions Armagh
The St Paul’s clubman last represented his county three years ago but was happy to answer the call when substitute goalkeeper John Finucane sustained an injury two weeks ago.
“I’m not expecting to play but I’ll be ready if needed,” McGreevy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
“I’ve been playing away for the club so my general level of fitness is still there to a good degree. I don’t expect to get on – and a part of me is almost hoping that it doesn’t come near to that – but I’ll be there if needed.”
Nothing quite inspires a team like a goalkeeper saying he hopes he doesn’t get on, but Antrim fans will hope that first-choice Kerr, or indeed McGreevy if he is called up, won’t be overly worked at Casement Park.
Tommy Walsh out for the season in Australia
Kilkenny fans may have feared the worst when they heard the initial news, but it’s not the Tullaroan man who has had his season curtailed, but namely his namesake Down Under who has seen his AFL season come to a premature end.
The former Kerry forward had featured in two of the last three games for the Sydney Swans and there were genuine hopes that the Tralee man has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury while lining out against Essendon on Saturday night.
The Sydney Swans described it on their website as a “horror injury” and Walsh is understood to have had his hamstring tendon torn off the bone.
He is contracted to the Swans until the end of next year and we wish Walsh the very best in his recovery.
