With an All-Ireland SFC medal in the back pocket and and the Young Footballer of the Year trophy on the sideboard, one would understand if Cork’s Aidan Walsh took it handy this winter. Not so.

The 20-year-old from Kanturk will line out at centre-back for Cork IT in the hockey intervarsities in UCD for the first time, reports the Irish Examiner.

Reports Alan Good:

Walsh will be joined in the CIT hockey squad by Cork senior hurling panellist Lorcan McLoughlin, while in the women’s squad, the GAA links continue with the inclusion of Tipperary ladies senior footballer Gillian O’Brien and Cork camogie starlet Christine O’Neill.

While O’Brien played schools hockey with Loreto Clonmel, the others – all recreation and leisure students – were introduced to the sport as part of their course.

Dual star Walsh is looking forward to a new challenge.

It’s a good bit of craic. I just said I’d change things up a bit and give it a go. It’s all about getting your eye in; I suppose it comes naturally enough from the hurling.

It’s a bit tricky trying to get used to only using one side of the stick, but it’s been fun trying to get it right. Hopefully we all know what we’re doing by now anyway.