Kilmacud Crokes won a tight Dublin Senior Football Championship final with a 0-11 to 0-10 victory over Na Fianna on Sunday. Shane Walsh, scorer of four points, was key to the south Dublin side retaining their title.
"A bit battered," Walsh told TG4 after the game when asked how he was feeling, "but that's what football is, both teams going hard at it for 60-plus minutes. It's a credit to Na Fianna, they pushed us all the way.
"That's a sign of the team. Everyone, to a man, stood up towards the end when Na Fianna threw everything at us.
"I was slagging the lads when I joined up. I said 'I'm not bringing success to the club. I'm just joining up with ye, and I'm hoping ye'll drag me over the line'."
Walsh went off in the first half after sustaining a cut to his ear. He returned in the second half, wearing a bandage around his head, to score three crucial points for the side he joined in August.
45 nóim
Cill Mochuda Na Crócaigh 0-09
Na Fianna 0-08Shane Walsh le pointe deas arís agus tá Cill Mochuda fós pointe amháin chun cinn!
Who will come out on top? 🏐
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— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 16, 2022
"When I came up yesterday evening from home, I just said there's a county final there to win, and you'll do whatever it takes, you find a way," said Walsh.
"When I sat in the ambulance, I was just waiting to get back out there because there was an issue getting stitches done. I just couldn't wait to get out there.
"Everyone has been training so hard for a day like today; everybody was putting their body on the line, and I just wanted to be out there with the lads doing that."
Shane Walsh: 'I love to challenge myself'
Asked if he felt extra pressure given the absence, due to injury, of Paul Mannion from the Kilmacud Crokes line-up, Walsh said, "I don't really look at it like that".
"I just love playing football, and that's what I came here today to do," he said.
"Whatever way you do it, that's the way it is. Craig popped up with a big score at a critical time to go one up. It's just a real team spirit there, and that's what got us over the line.
"I love playing football. Days like today, I love playing in the highest competition, the best level. I love to challenge myself every day that I go out. I've been challenged every evening that I've gone to training here."
50 nóim
Cill Mochuda Na Crócaigh 0-09
Na Fianna 0-09An-thaispeántas ó Shane Walsh! 🤩
Great score for Kilmacud Crokes as we enter the final 10 minutes!
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV @GAA_BEO | #GAABEO | @KCrokesGAAClub | @clgNaFianna pic.twitter.com/CZ2awxT56Y
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 16, 2022
See Also: TJ Reid Emotional As Ballyhale Win Kilkenny Five-In-A-Row
