TWO-TIME ALL-Ireland winner Pádraig Walsh has announced his retirement from the Kilkenny hurlers.
The 31-year-old, who made his breakthrough with the Cats in the 2014 championship, has told the Irish Independent that he made his decision was based on “finding it harder to recover” from the demands of the game.
“I’ve been there a good few years now” he explained, “and I’m starting to feel it in the body. I just want to give a few good years to the club, so I said I’d call it a day. There was no big reason or anything. I kind of knew at the start of this year, this was going to be my last year, no matter what.”
A native of the Tullaroan club, the two-time All-Star comes from a family with rich history in Kilkenny hurling. His grandfather won two All-Irelands with the county while his brother Tommy is considered to be one of the greatest-ever defenders in the game. His sister Grace is also a gifted player who is still playing an influential role for the Kilkenny camogie team.
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Best wishes to him, a very fine player. Has had a more than decent stint in the black and amber.
Big lost to kilkenny this week,demands are so huge now for inter County .Beyond time the Gaa need to reward these players with a wage .Not a generous token but,not mileage but maybe a wage for the panel of players that start pre season right up to the time the county is knocked out
@martin byrne: Bring in pay for play and you kill the whole the whole association. GAA is the last pure sport there is. It’s amateur/voluntary ethos is at the core of it.
His legs were gone this year but great servant over the years. Best wishes on his retirement!