Two-time All-Ireland winner Padraig Walsh is no stranger to Croke Park but it will be a “complete novelty” to run out on the hallowed turf in his Tullaroan jersey.

The Kilkenny and Leinster standard bearers will take on Fr O’Neills of Cork in Saturday’s All-Ireland IHC final and Walsh revealed to the Irish Independent that only a “only a handful’ of his club-mates have played there before.

“For us, this is a complete novelty,” he said.

“There might be one or two who have played mini-sevens there.

“That's what makes it a bit special as well.

"You'll have parents coming out to this match in the stand who never thought they'd see their son play in Croke Park."

The club’s county and provincial success helped the two-time All-Star overcome the disappointment of Kilkenny's Liam MacCarthy Cup final defeat to Tipperary last August.

“Losing an All-Ireland final is absolutely devastating but the year just turned around for me then.

“You are finishing the year on a high. We finished the year winning a Leinster final.”

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