Looking back, Walter Walsh can appreciate just how crazy it all seemed. A fringe panellist one minute; an All-Ireland final hero the next. How did that happen? The Kilkenny colossus, who retired a week ago at the age of 33, only discovered he was starting the 2012 senior hurling final replay against Galway on the Friday night beforehand.
On the Saturday his phone buzzed. An unknown number. He let it ring, terrified it was some scoop-hungry journalist – it was actually team-mate Paul Murphy, trying and failing to wish him well.
Not that he needed that on the Sunday: famously, the 21-year-old rookie from Tullogher Rosbercon shot 1-3 from play and was named man of the match as Kilkenny stormed to victory. It was Brian Cody’s usual pre-match Friday night meeting when the bombshell dropped. “I was as shocked as everyone else in the room.
I’d never played. I’d only joined the panel for the quarter-final against Limerick – I wasn’t even on the Leinster final panel,” he recounts. “I was playing under-21 with Kilkenny at the time, so I was in to make up the numbers in training.
I didn’t think I’d be featuring in the game. To be starting then was mad.” He continues: “It worked out – we won the All-Ireland.
I actually think it would affect me more now if I was named to start in a match. Back then, sure I was 21. I’m easy-going enough as it is.
I wasn’t overly nervous about it. I knew no different. It was a mad experience, obviously.
“Paul Murphy actuall.