Shane Walsh made his debut for Kilmacud Crokes in their Dublin Senior Football Championship group stage game against Templeogue Synge Street on Sunday.
Walsh, whose transfer from his home club Kilkerrin-Clonberne to the reigning Dublin champions, was the subject of much interest and scrutiny, entered the action with 20 minutes to play at Parnell Park. Kilmacud, All-Ireland finalists last season, were 14 points up at that stage. Walsh kicked at 55th minute point as Crokes won 3-25 to 1-6.
"I just wanted to get back kicking ball again, it's what I love doing. It's great to get the opportunity here," Walsh told TG4 after the game.
"Injuries can take their toll on your body over time, and I'm not a rookie anymore. I'm 10 years on the go playing with Galway as well. I'm driving 20 minutes over the road here to kick a ball, rather than two-and-a-half hours [to Galway]."
Paul Mannion, scorer of nine points in the game, described Walsh as "a brilliant addition".
4 September 2022; Shane Walsh of Kilmacud Crokes, 26, during the warm-up before the Dublin County Senior Club Football Championship Group 1 match between Kilmacud Crokes and Templeogue Synge Street at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"He's got a great attitude," said Mannion.
"He's come in over the last few weeks, and trained really hard. We've welcomed him in, and he's delighted to be here. I'm looking forward to seeing more of him."
Asked about how Walsh's transfer to Kilmacud came to be, manager Robbie Brennan said it was "pretty straightforward".
"Shane approached the club," said Brennan.
"Obviously, he was making his move to Dublin, and was looking to see if it was possible to join us. It happens to a lot of players around the country that they come to clubs.
"Not everybody gets to join Kilmacud, that's the reality. The most important thing is there's a process that has to take place. Shane ticked all those boxes, and the club were only too delighted then to welcome him in. He's a gentleman above all else, and that's one of the things we look for at the club."
Brennan added that the combination of Mannion, a six-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin, and Walsh in the Kilmacud forward line is something "you could" get excited about.
"It's probably not the area of the pitch that we struggle in for numbers," said Brennan.
"We're probably tighter in other areas.
"We were in the All-Ireland final, and 30 seconds away from winning it without Paul or Shane Walsh. It's a plus but it doesn't make the sum of what we're at."
Kilmacud are through to the quarter-finals of the Dublin championship as they aim to win their 10th county football title.
"Be it in a Galway dressing room or any dressing room you step into no one has any given right to be starting on a team"
Bhí deis ag Micheál Ó Domhnaill labhairt le Shane Walsh ar GAA Beo inné tar éis a chéad chluiche le @KCrokesGAAClub #GAA pic.twitter.com/OydTDzCy6r— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) September 5, 2022
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