Former Galway player Gary O’Donnell says Shane Walsh is only criticised because people know how talented he is.
Walsh delivered a vintage performance against Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter final despite being hampered by hamstring and ankle issues.
He kicked 0-7, including three from play with John Small man-marking him until his substitution in the 65th minute. Walsh was on one leg and was only able to hug the touchline at that point but Small didn't leave him.
He continued to track his every move, showing Dublin’s regard for him.
But prior to that display, Walsh’s form and mentality were questioned locally and nationally.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Locally, former Galway player Michael Martin expressed doubts about Walsh’s mindset.
“Ever since the (2022) All-Ireland, I just think he’s in cloud-cuckoo land. I’d question where Shane’s head is at,” he said on the ‘Maroon and White’ podcast before this year’s Connacht final.
Nationally, former Donegal player Brendan Devenney suggested Walsh could be dropped for the Dublin game.
“This thing of hoping that Walsh clicks on the day, I just couldn’t put faith in that,” he said on the Smaller Fish GAA podcast.
“You’d be better off with someone there who’s going to give you something all around the pitch…I just wouldn’t trust Walsh from what I’ve seen.”
Walsh has endured an injury-interrupted season for Galway. He played and finished their first National League game against Mayo, scoring 0-4, but wasn’t seen in the League again.
The high point of his championship was the last day out against Dublin and the low point was his first day out against Sligo, when he was taken off after 47 minutes.
In between, he was dropped for the Connacht final but came on and kicked three vital points. He was the match-winner in the group stage against Westmeath kicking 1-4 but then injury struck again in the Monaghan game.
“He was complaining about the ankle being a bit sore, but he wasn't giving us much up till that anyway,” his manager Padraic Joyce said afterwards.
When it comes to Walsh, expectations are different.
Gary O’Donnell knows Walsh well having played with him for eight years for Galway. He says that to his mind, the 31-year-old is the most talented Gaelic footballer in the country.
“A lot of the criticism comes from the sense that everyone knows how talented he is,” says the former Galway captain and AIB ambassador.
“When he performs on a given day, personally, I don’t think there’s a player in the country who can do what he can do.
“Obviously, there are a lot of fantastic footballers around Ireland but the ability to do what he can do, kick off his left, kick off his right, out of his hand, from the ground, his pace, his energy. He ticks every single box.”
That is one of the challenges Donegal will face on Sunday.
Walsh’s fondness for Croke Park is also a worry according to former Donegal player Mark McHugh who says he’ll have to be man-marked.
“He’s really hard to mark when he can kick off those two feet," says the AIB ambassador.
"Another problem is how familiar he is with Croke Park now playing with Galway and Kilmacud, he knows where the posts are and it’s like his own back yard.”
“You can’t man-mark everybody in modern day football,” adds McHugh, “so you’ll pick out your one or two.
“You have to man-mark Walsh and Comer.
“You’re probably looking at Brendan McCole for Comer. Maybe a Peadar Mogan or a Ciaran Moore or a Mark Curran or Caolan McColgan will get Walsh. But they’ll study it and see who’s best fitted for it.”
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The spotlight has been on Walsh since 2022, when he lit up the All-Ireland final for Galway before transferring clubs to Kilmacud Crokes.
He won an All-Ireland with the Dublin club in his first year but injuries followed him into the 2023 inter-county season - he was in a boot the week Galway were eliminated by Mayo - and wasn't at his best.
He starred in Crokes' Leinster club championship win last winter but as the injuries continued, impatience seemed to grow.
"Some of the criticism from the outside comes from the fact that people want to see him in top form," says O'Donnell.
““He’s a fan favourite. If there’s one player that entertains you the most, it probably is Shane,” says O’Donnell.
“I thought he was really on it the last day against Dublin, from the word go, you could almost see the glint in his eye.
“He was looking to take his man on once he got the first few balls, he kicked a couple of glorious scores in the first half, he really got Galway ticking.”
But he says the big thing for Galway in recent times is that they’ve shown they can win even without Walsh shooting the lights out. He says that’s a positive for the player and his team.
Having shared the dressing room with him, O’Donnell says that in the past Walsh put a lot of pressure on himself to perform.
“You’re at a level (inter-county football) now where you can’t play well every day,” says O’Donnell.
“He knows, management know, supporters know that he doesn’t have to be nine or ten out of ten for Galway to have a chance of winning.
“Shane puts the pressure on himself to play well too,” he adds.
“But I don’t think there’s big pressure on him to perform out of his skin on Sunday. If Shane just takes care of himself and does what he has to do, I’m sure his performance will speak for itself.’
10 July 2024; Former Galway footballer Gary O’Donnell, pictured today for AIB ahead of GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Donegal and Galway this Sunday, July 14th. AIB have also today announced the return of the Volunteer VIP competition which gives GAA volunteers the opportunity to win a money can’t buy behind the scenes tour of Croke Park, on the morning of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football final as well as tickets to the match. Details on how to enter the Volunteer VIP competition will be announced on Monday, July 15th. For exclusive content and behind the scenes action from the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championships follow @AIB_GAA on X and Instagram and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AIBGAA. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
