Pádraig Walsh

Pádraig Walsh
Personal information
Irish namePádraig Breathnach
SportHurling
PositionRight wing-back
Born12 March 1992
Tullaroan, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
OccupationStudent
Club(s)
YearsClub
Tullaroan
Club titles
Kilkenny titles0
Inter-county(ies)*
YearsCountyApps (scores)
2012-presentKilkenny8 (0-10)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles1
All-Irelands1
NHL1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 22:33, 7 January 2015.

Pádraig Walsh (born 12 March 1992) is an Irish hurler who plays as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.[1]

Born in Tullaroan, County Kilkenny, Walsh first excelled at hurling whilst at school in St. Kieran's College. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side.[2] He joined the senior panel during the 2012 league. Since then Walsh has become a regular member of the starting fifteen and had has won one All-Ireland medal,one Leinster medal and one National Hurling League medal.[3][4]

At club level Walsh plays with Tullaroan.

Walsh's grandfather, Paddy Grace, as well as his brother, Tommy, have also enjoyed All-Ireland success with Kilkenny. His sister, Grace, is a key member of the Kilkenny senior camogie team.[5]

Playing career

Minor and under-21

Walsh first played for Kilkenny in 2009 when he joined the minor side. He played no part in Kilkenny's 1-19 to 0-11 trouncing of Wexford in the provincial decider, however, he was sprung from the bench in the subsequent All-Ireland decider against Galway. A devastating second quarter display was pivotal in powering Galway to a 2-15 to 2-11 victory.[6]

In 2010 Walsh was in his final year on the minor team. He won his first Leinster medal on the field of play that year following a 1-20 to 0-10 trouncing of Dublin.[7] The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Kilkenny against Clare. "The Cats" were made to work hard before securing a narrow 2-10 to 0-14 victory, giving Walsh a coveted All-Ireland medal.[8]

Two years later Walsh was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 4-24 to 1-13 trouncing of Laois.[9] Kilkenny later faced Clare in the All-Ireland decider. A powerful second-half display, in which they outscored Kilkenny 1-10 to 0-4, saw Clare take their second ever All-Ireland under-21 crown.[10]

Senior

Walsh joined the Kilkenny senior team as a member of the extended panel in 2012. He later collected a National Hurling League medal as an unused substitute following a 3-21 to 0-16 demolition of old rivals Cork.[11]

During the 2013 league campaign Walsh became a more regular member of the team. He won a second consecutive league medal that year, albeit as an unused substitute once again, following a 2-17 to 0-20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.[12] He later made his championship debut on 28 June 2013 in a 1-16 to 0-16 Leinster semi-final replay defeat by Dublin.[13]

Walsh won his first league medal on the field in 2014, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2-25 to 1-27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.[14] He subsequently secured his first Leinster medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0-24 to 1-9 defeat of Dublin.[15] On 7 September 2014 Walsh lined out in his first All-Ireland decider with Tipperary providing the opposition. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.[16] The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2-17 to 2-14 victory.[17] It was Walsh' first All-Ireland medal.

Honours

Playing honours

St. Kieran's College
Kilkenny

References

  1. "Profile: Padraig Walsh". Kilkenny GAA website. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  2. Boyle, Donnchadh (28 November 2012). "It's a Walsh family affair as Padraig set for minor bow". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. "Four debutantes in Kilkenny team". Hogan Stand website. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. "8 rising stars to watch out for in this year’s Allianz hurling league". The Score website. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  5. Cunningham, Kieran (20 November 2014). "A force of nature". Irish Daily Star. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  6. O'Toole, Fintan (7 September 2009). "Cummins inspires Galway to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  7. Hickey, Paddy (5 July 2010). "Cats sweep Dubs aside to claim minor crown". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  8. O'Toole, Fintan (6 September 2010). "Kilkenny pushed to the limit". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  9. O'Brien, Brendan (12 July 2012). "Cats make Laois nightmare come true". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  10. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (17 September 2012). "Dynamic duo drive Clare to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  11. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (7 May 2012). "Cats’ smash and grab". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  12. "Cats claim 16th National League title". RTÉ Sport. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  13. "Historic win for Dublin over Kilkenny". RTÉ Sport. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  14. "Reid fires over winners as Kilkenny edge out Tipp". RTÉ Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  15. "Reid sparkles as Cats conquer Leinster". RTÉ Sport. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  16. "Kilkenny and Tipp finish level in classic final". RTÉ Sport. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  17. "Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.