In what is a huge deal for the Cork hurlers, Aidan Walsh has confirmed that he will play both football and hurling with the Rebels next year according to the Irish Examiner.
With the commitment required of inter-county players seemingly increasing by the year, dual players have become something of a dying breed in recent seasons but Walsh has decided to buck the trend by throwing his lot in with both camps next season.
The Kanturk clubman has been one of the standout midfielders in Gaelic Football in recent years, winning an All-Ireland title in 2010 and two All-Star awards all by the age of 23.
Walsh stood out for both the Cork minor and under-21 hurlers in his underage days and with Kanturk as they claimed the Cork Intermediate title recently and he feels he is at the right age to give inter-county football and hurling a go simultaneously.
“I’m very excited,” Walsh told the Irish Examiner.
“It’s something that has been on my mind for the last few years, I’m 23 now so I’m probably at the age when I can give it a go for a few years. I’m back at home as well so that’s a help too.
“There’s only a short period of time when you can combine them. I had decided that if Jimmy (Barry-Murphy) asked me to play hurling then I would. I was talking to him recently and when he’d asked if I’d be interested I said I’d love to give it a go.”
Walsh confirmed that he took the decision with the blessing of new Cork football boss Brian Cuthbert and that football remains his number one priority, news that will come as a relief to followers of the big ball in the Rebel County following a spate of recent retirements and the departure of Ciaran Sheehan to Australian Rules outfit Carlton.
Walsh also moved to dismiss speculation that he was about to follow in Sheehan’s footsteps and move Down Under, saying: “People have been saying that to me, but I haven’t a clue where it came from. My focus is totally on Cork.”
Walsh is obviously young and extremely fit but how he will cope as a dual star is interesting given that a number of high profile figures like his fellow county man Eoin Cadogan have struggled to combine the two in recent years and have decided to focus on one sport instead.
Saying that, confirmation that he will play the small ball game is a huge boost to Cork hurling and will add momentum to their bid for Liam McCarthy next season following the heartbreaking defeat to Clare in this year’s decider.
