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Post by homerj on Sept 21, 2018 9:16:26 GMT
Donnchadh has announced his retirement.wont get the same publicity as Donnaghy but at the same time, a great servent to Kerry football. www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0921/995172-donnchadh-walsh/id imagine Darren Sullivan and Maher may follow also meaning we would be left with probably the youngest Kerry squad in decades.
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Post by Attacking Wing Back on Sept 21, 2018 9:23:06 GMT
In a statement released by Cromane GAA Club, the 3 time All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winner says:
"For the last 15 years, I have devoted my life to the Kerry senior football team. The greatest honour I ever could’ve imagined has been pulling on the green and gold jersey but, as with all good things, it must come to an end. That end has arrived."
"I am retiring from Kerry inter-county football with a lifetime of memories. I first played for Kerry as a minor two days after my 17th birthday back in 2001, and apart from a brief period where I had to knuckle down in my early 20s, I have been on the juggernaut that is the life of a Kerry footballer ever since. I cherished every second because it’s all I ever wanted to do. "
"But now, it’s time for me to step aside. "
"I wish the new Kerry senior football manager the very best of luck and encourage all my former teammates to do what it takes to get Kerry back to the top. The memories will be worth it. "
"My club, Réalt na Mara, An Cromán, have supported me to the hilt on the entirety of this journey. There is no greater feeling than representing your own people and I hope I’ve done so with heart, dignity and determination. Although a small club we have managed to produce two inter-county footballers for Kerry over the last 15 years, something we take great pride in."
"On my league debut for Kerry, back in March 2003, when Páidí Ó Sé gave me my first taste of senior Kerry football, Seán O’Sullivan and I made up two-thirds of the half forward line. To have two men from the club line out for Kerry was a great honour for Cromane and a testament to our club’s officials and coaches."
"To all the members of Cromane GAA Club: thank you so much for nurturing and encouraging me. While it’s the end of an era retiring from Kerry, it’s something of a rebirth for me with the club. I was reared about 10 metres from Cromane GAA pitch and it has been close to my heart since I could raise my foot and kick a ball. I look forward to kicking many more balls there in the years to come."
"I would like to thank my family and friends for always being there through thick and thin. I’d like to especially thank all my coaches and team-mates that I played with, and for, throughout my development and career including my school, the Intermediate School Killorglin (ISK); my divisional GAA board, Mid Kerry; my colleges, UCC and RCSI, and Kerry underage teams. "
"Finally, to the many passionate Kerry supporters, young and old, that I have met the length and breadth of the county and country, I would like to thank you for your fervent support throughout my time in the green and gold. I now hope to become one of you, as I cheer on my heroes from the terraces of Austin Stack Park and Fitzgerald Stadium.
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Post by glengael on Sept 21, 2018 10:27:34 GMT
Never the flashiest forward, he scored quite a few crucial goals as well. Great for a small like Cromane to have had 2 players on the Kerry team.
He has been busy off the field retraining from engineering to Physiotherapy which is pretty demanding also.
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Post by hurlingman on Sept 21, 2018 10:32:53 GMT
Hard to believe it was 15 years ago he made his debut. A good role model for younger players to keep at it. It was about 4/5 years after his debut before he made it
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Post by jackiel on Sept 21, 2018 10:56:58 GMT
Donnchadh was one of the hardest working players on the field, I'd love to have seen stats on the ground he covered. I always felt he was under-rated.
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Post by dc84 on Sept 21, 2018 11:03:08 GMT
Fair play to Donnchadh always gave everything 100% and a gentleman aswell ! Hope he enjoys the retirement maybe he can devote more time to the brush dancing now!
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Post by champer on Sept 21, 2018 11:04:42 GMT
Running a competition to see how many times the word 'underrated' is used in this thread before Monday.
Surely we can do better than that to describe Donnchadh....
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Post by hurlingman on Sept 21, 2018 11:31:10 GMT
Running a competition to see how many times the word 'underrated' is used in this thread before Monday. Surely we can do better than that to describe Donnchadh.... Underappreciated is the word i think. I don't think too many people didn't rate him
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Post by onlykerry on Sept 21, 2018 11:51:00 GMT
He worked hard and let his football do the talking for him - honest, hardworking and dedicated to his craft. A great servant to the Kerry cause.
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Post by ciarrai78 on Sept 21, 2018 11:57:44 GMT
Donnchadh was one of the most honest wholehearted players that I have seen wearing the green and gold. He was blessed with terrific stamina but also had good hands, great distribution skills off both feet and was well able to take a score. He gave everything for the jersey, was always in peak physical condition. From 2010 to 2016 he was one of our most consistent and best performers. I wish him the very best in his retirement from the inter county scene.
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Post by Ballyfireside on Sept 21, 2018 12:06:01 GMT
I don't think any of us would intentionally use terminology to offend a 15 year veteran. That Donnchadh was the hardest worker off-the-ball had him out of focus more so than most, and yes, thankless this can be, but he sacrificed himself for the team and for that we can only be grateful. Armchair viewers couldn't appreciate him and I include myself in that to an extent, living in Donegal as I do.
The sign off is nice and good luck to you man, ta for the music.
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Post by sullyschoice on Sept 21, 2018 13:45:40 GMT
Was a vital cog in the team for a good few years. Not showey but hugely influential. Good luck in your retirement from football and thank you for your service.
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Post by Mickmack on Sept 21, 2018 14:57:02 GMT
Wearing the Kerry jersey always seemed very important to him. For years he seemed to be the first player to be taken off but it was only when you spent a match day watching him closely that you realised the work ethic he had and the work he did. His ability to convert a goal chance was on a par with Colm Cooper but his hod carrying duties meant we didnt see him on the end of many moves. Remember the deft pass to JOD from Colms footpass for that great goal v Dublin in 2013.
He took it on the chin when he was dropped for Tadhg Kennelly in 2009 but he came back and continued to deliver for his county in his own quiet understated way.
I wish this great man and exceptional athlete a happy retirement from inter county football.
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Post by givehimaball on Sept 21, 2018 16:25:03 GMT
On the underrated tag I think some of this may be down to the fact that his game wasn't the most television friendly. Can't remember what game it was (I know it was Croke Park) and Donnachadh had a stormer and I gave him man-of-the-match, covering vast amounts of ground, consistently offering options to the man in possession, tracking back, covering loose men. I watched the full game back later and the television cameras didn't pick up half of what he'd done in the game.
His movement off the ball was exceptional and the consistency with which he did it was outstanding. When he had the ball he used it smartly and when he didn't have the ball he was moving to the place where he offered the best option for the team. Countless times he was in the right place at the right time, making the player in possession look good by simply picking him out out with an easy pass to the free man in space. An absolute pain in the face to mark and an absolute joy to go into battle with.
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Post by Mickmack on Sept 21, 2018 22:00:31 GMT
How many all senior medals has he?.
I read somewhere that he has 3.
I would have said 5.
2004. 2006. 2007. 2009. 2014.
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falveyb2k
Fanatical Member
"The way this man played today, if there was a flood he'd walk on water. Jack O Shea"
Posts: 1,920
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Post by falveyb2k on Sept 21, 2018 22:23:19 GMT
3, he wasn't on the panel in 04 or 06
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Post by Mickmack on Sept 22, 2018 8:37:05 GMT
Thanks Falvey. Paidi had started him in 2003 in the league.
Was it Pat o Shea that brought him back in in 2007
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Post by Kingdomson on Sept 22, 2018 8:51:37 GMT
Another great servent to his county steps away. Thanks Donnchadh Walsh for the memories. What an engine this man had!
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Post by kerrybhoy06 on Sept 22, 2018 9:15:33 GMT
Great servant to Kerry- sad to see him go but it was the right time.
Himself and Sean Sullivan always provided the basis of a great anecdote when talking to people from outside Kerry- with both of them playing for a Div 5 and Junior B club while starting in finals for Kerry
This doesn’t really happen anywhere else and I wonder how often we’ll see it in the future to be honest
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Post by buck02 on Sept 22, 2018 9:29:44 GMT
Has Fat Tom, formerly of this parish, made any comment on Donnchadh’s retirement?
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Post by hatchetman on Sept 22, 2018 11:23:37 GMT
He never struck me as somebody who made a fuss or wanted to be the centre of attention ... so I won't comment on this thread.
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Post by Attacking Wing Back on Sept 22, 2018 15:58:05 GMT
Has Fat Tom, formerly of this parish, made any comment on Donnchadh’s retirement? Fat tom hasn't been on here in about 10 years
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Post by mafi97 on Sept 22, 2018 19:46:48 GMT
One of my real favourite players of all time.
A little surprised that people haven't focussed on his football intelligence.
Any eejit with a big engine could run around the pitch all day - and pick up a fair bit of ball along the way. But Donnchadh always knew where he was running and, most importantly, why.
His reading of the game, his anticipation, his distribution and his ability to arrive unspotted at the end of a move were second to none. Second to none.
There was a master soccer player called John White who played inside-forward in the great Spurs team of the early '60's. He was noted for his ability to drift unseen into the penalty area without appearing to have made a run. As a result, he was known as "The Ghost". He was the only player to whom I could ever compare Donnchadh - but, I'm not sure John White would have it in him to horse Lee Keegan out over the side-line hoarding or indeed to match Jack McCaffrey for pace as he covered back making sure that speedy Jack never got to cut inside.
Truly, a man for all seasons.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Sept 22, 2018 21:59:48 GMT
It was a great job when he turned the hare in 2013.
That was the greatest half of football I ever saw and he was heavily involved in all three goals.
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Post by sullyschoice on Sept 22, 2018 22:29:30 GMT
His talents were unappreciated generally. (Outside Kerry) He didn't do anything flashy but did his job better than most. A workhorse would be a bit of an unkind title but he was like the fella who shovelled coal into the furnace. The train wouldn't move without it's fuel.
I would be a big admirer of his talents
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falveyb2k
Fanatical Member
"The way this man played today, if there was a flood he'd walk on water. Jack O Shea"
Posts: 1,920
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Post by falveyb2k on Sept 22, 2018 22:44:00 GMT
Thanks Falvey. Paidi had started him in 2003 in the league. Was it Pat o Shea that brought him back in in 2007 Yeah, it was. Between that and bringing Scanlon back in, Pat O Shea got 2 very important but under rated players to be key parts of Kerry teams
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Post by Mickmack on Sept 23, 2018 9:37:53 GMT
Thanks Falvey. Paidi had started him in 2003 in the league. Was it Pat o Shea that brought him back in in 2007 Yeah, it was. Between that and bringing Scanlon back in, Pat O Shea got 2 very important but under rated players to be key parts of Kerry teams thanks. Pat gave TW his chance too as an ex minor that year.
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Jigz84
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Post by Jigz84 on Sept 24, 2018 10:55:02 GMT
Donnchadh was the first name on the team for me for a good while. Loved his work rate and ability to finish, so clinical. I wish him all the best and thank him for his great service and memories.
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Oct 1, 2018 23:02:03 GMT
Thanks Falvey. Paidi had started him in 2003 in the league. Was it Pat o Shea that brought him back in in 2007 Yeah, it was. Between that and bringing Scanlon back in, Pat O Shea got 2 very important but under rated players to be key parts of Kerry teams stuff like that is why I would love to see Pat Shea back as manager amongst other qualities
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Post by glengael on Oct 2, 2018 8:22:12 GMT
Yeah, it was. Between that and bringing Scanlon back in, Pat O Shea got 2 very important but under rated players to be key parts of Kerry teams stuff like that is why I would love to see Pat Shea back as manager amongst other qualities Pat O'Shea also gave first team starts to Killian Young and Padraig Reidy if I remember that year right.
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