Aidan Walsh looking forward to Croke Park return with An Ghaeltacht

Michael Bolton

At this stage of his career, Aidan Walsh thought his days of big finals in Croke Park were over.

Having won All-Irelands with Cork and his former club, Kanturk, Walsh has experience of success on the biggest days.

Making the move to west Kerry, the transfer to An Ghaeltacht followed, where he has been key to their county and Munster titles.

On Sunday, they will face Derry's Glenullin in the All-Ireland intermediate football final, something which is still sinking in for Walsh.

" I was just saying to a few people during the week that if you told me I'd be going back to Croke Park last year, I'd have said not a hope, and if you told me I'd have been playing for a Kerry club, I'd have said that definitely wouldn't be the case.

"It has been brilliant, it has really helped me to transition back down to west Kerry.

"The community has really got behind us. You'd be walking around the place, people would be wishing you the best of luck and congratulations, all of that. It has been really enjoyable, a great journey.

"We're just really looking forward to this weekend.”

At the age of 35, Walsh knows all too well that these days do not come around often,

A former footballer and hurler with Cork, Walsh won Sam Maguire in 2010, which was Cork's last All-Ireland.

The oldest player in this side, Walsh is keen to set the example and ensure the younger players make the most of this day.

"I suppose as you get older, you definitely appreciate it more.

I was fortunate enough to win an All-Ireland when I was 20, and we lost the final in 2009 and in 2010 we got over the line.

I was like, Jesus, is this the way it's going to be every year? I never go back there again with cork, but lucky enough to get there with my club in 2018 and have never gone back there since.

"We're portraying to the group, even the younger fellas. You think in your first year that this is going to be the case every year,

" This might be the only opportunity you ever get to play in Croke Park. This might be your only opportunity to play in an All-Ireland final, so make the most of it. Enjoy it.

"People get too bogged down and too serious about the whole thing, and it's gone before we know it."

For Walsh, to be able to prove people wrong and be a key part of the side to get to the final has been vital.

An experienced player who has seen it all, the Cork man was not going to let this opportunity pass him by.

"I suppose people were kind of saying they were surprised I actually was even starting on the team when we started off this year.

"When I heard those kind of comments, it did annoy me a bit, that people thought that I wasn't even capable of getting into the starting team.

"It was fierce motivation for myself to prove something. and  I've been lucky that things have kind of gone well.

"So it's great to have to contribute something to the team, and they've been very welcoming of me. I said to the management to start the year, I'm not sure what I can give you, but I'll give you whatever I can, and whatever I need to do, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."