Walsh, Kevin
March 27, 1992
Kevin Walsh strong on the ball
Kevin Walsh
From Killanin
Galway Football's Gentle Giant
He was the outstanding minor footballer in Ireland in 1986 when Galway won the minor All Ireland title under team managership of John Tobin. A minor again the following year, he proceeded to win 3 Connacht Under 21 Championship medals in 1988 - '90, narrowly missing an All Ireland Under 21 medal in 1989, when Galway lost by the minimum margin to Cork in that Under 21 final.
The first time I ever saw Kevin in action was in the Ted Webb under 16 Connacht final versus Sligo in Tuam in 1985. It was a very wet summers' evening and Kevin's size and prodigious kicking were very impressive. But I had been told to watch out for the Walsh brothers from Killanin by their N.S teacher Seamus O'Cualain and by Sean McManamon, then Secretary of Galway's Coiste Peil na nOg and a very prominent referee in Galway. The Walsh brothers Bosco and his younger brother Kevin were the talk of the national schools of Galway and shrewd students of the game predicted a bright future for both of them.
THE 1986 BOYS
And so it has turned out to be. Bosco was a team mate of Kevin's, on Galway's All Ireland minor winning team of '86, so many of whom were still in the vanguard of John Tobin's Galway Senior Team who met Dublin in the N.F.L. Playoff for a quarter final place versus Donegal. From that team of '86, reserve goalkeeper Adrian Brennan, full back Francis McWalter, left half back Tomas Mannion, midfielders Kevin Walsh and Alan Mulholland and reserve forward Fergal O' Neill are all on the present Galway Senior panel.
KILLANIN
Where in Killanin? situated between Oughterard and Moycullen on the banks of Lough Corrib, Killanin is a small scenic country parish where the Gaelic football club is big. In Killanin, the club has a huge support and 1991 was the unit's greatest year winning everything in Intermediate ranks in Galway, being undefeated in the entire year. The Walsh brothers were the real stars of the club, with Kevin the inspiration in both Championship and League final, winning the man of the match award on both occasions. I had the honour of presenting him with the last award- a wristlet watch on both occasions - and his quip to me "I'll never be late again" was typical of the chirpy gentle giant who has meant so much to Galway in the current N.F.L.
LEG INJURIES
Nagging muscle injuries bothered him for years but since the 6'4", 23 year old who weighs in at around 15 stone weight started training to be a member of the Garda Siochana in Templemore last year, the injuries began to be a thing of the past and Kevin has hit his best form since 1986. He has played on Galways Senior Squad in the N.F.L. of 1987 - '88 under Billy Joyce and like his midfielder partner from 1986, John Joyce played for Galway in the draw and replay of the Connacht S.F.C. game versus Mayo in 1988. His brother Bosco (Bosco had also been on the Galway S.F team during the same period) until 1991 and both men had a new lease of the football life as Killanin raced to Intermediate glory in the summer of '91.
DUBLIN GARDA
Stationed in Dublin as a trainee Garda until recently Kevin's midfield play versus both Cork and Tyrone has captured the attention of the press. A brilliant schoolboy international basketball star in his secondary school days in Oughterard, Kevin is an all-round sporting player and like former Galway midfielder Jimmy Duggan always seems to have time and room for himself. A great passer of the ball, he is two footed and is forming a fine partnership with his 1986 minor colleague Alan Mullholland. His fielding of the ball in impeccable and his general fitness improves with each outing. Killanin have developed a lovely G.A.A. field (plus practice field and dressing rooms) in a sylvan setting just off the main Moycullen - Oughterard road. The field is a hive of activity during the spring and summer months. At juvenile level the club is also making a huge impact. Big Kevin is the idol of the parish and he looks set to realise, at last, his great minor potential of 1986.
Taken from Hogan Stand magazine
27th March 1992
Most Read Stories