In the days following Kilkenny's All-Ireland hurling final defeat to Limerick in July, Walter Walsh tried not to think about whether he'd return for a 13th season in the inter-county game.
"You’re down, you’re disappointed. You probably have a negative look at things, at hurling - that’s natural," said Walsh, speaking ahead of this weekend's AIB All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship final in which his Tullogher Rosbercon side face St Catherine's of Cork.
9 January 2024; Walter Walsh of Tullogher Rosbercon pictured ahead of the AIB GAA Club Hurling All-Ireland Junior Championship Final against St Catherines. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Walsh also had his wedding to his now wife Vickie, held a week after the All-Ireland final, to keep his mind occupied.
"My two brothers got married as well. We all got married within six weeks of each other," explained Walsh.
"The two lads had their dates in. I came in last and asked if it was alright that I got married two weeks before my older brother Phillip. He didn't mind. With me, with hurling, it's busy.
"Myself and Vickie wanted a summer wedding. It was the only date that would have worked. It all went great, we had a great couple of days.
"The low of losing an All-Ireland, you're forgetting about that with the high of getting married a week later."
23 July 2023; William O'Donoghue of Limerick in action against Walter Walsh of Kilkenny during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Walsh ultimately had to make a decision when a Kilkenny team meeting was called for November
"My name was in the group to go to the meeting," said Walsh.
"I had a phone call with Derek Lyng just to have a chat about the coming year and it was positive from both ends."
Though Kilkenny led Limerick by six points in the All-Ireland final, the reigning champions surged back during the second half to win by nine.
Walsh, who was part of a Kilkenny team which won three All-Ireland titles in four years between 2012 and 2015, feels Limerick have "every right" to think they are unbeatable.
11 June 2023; Walter Walsh of Kilkenny gets past Cathal Mannion of Galway on his way to scoring his side's second goal during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"I came into a team like that as well," said Walsh.
"You just think that you’re going to keep on winning, that this is the norm. But it doesn’t work out like that.
"We have been very competitive. I know we have been beaten in the last four All-Ireland [finals we've played in] but we’re winning Leinsters, we’re getting to All-Irelands. I think the team is improving, the management is excellent as well.
"There are a lot of lads retired at my age, 32, but if I didn’t think that I could give something and we could go on to lift more silverware next year I wouldn’t be involved, even though I love wearing the Kilkenny jersey. I’d be very optimistic about the coming year.
"There’s going to be massive competition. There has been a load of young players brought in and you’re going to be looking at that because when I go back my focus is making the 26 for championship then pushing for the starting 15. You need competition and I have no doubt there will be competition within the Kilkenny squad as well."
This season, AIB will honour #TheToughest players in Gaelic Games - those who persevere no matter what, giving their all for their club and community. AIB is in its 33rd year supporting the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships.
