Stephen Walsh takes natural coaching step with his club Passage

Never judge a book by its cover can cover a multitude of situations and people.

Take Stephen Walsh for example. New to the position of senior manager with his club Passage, it would be unwise to judge his ability to do a good job based on any lack of senior management experience.

He comes into the role with many years of experience and success as a manager, ideally placing him to take on his first senior management position.

The popular, enthusiastic, much loved and passionate club man started the role in June and is enjoying the challenge and believes it helps being a local lad managing a local club.

“I have coached at every level in the club, as far as Munster junior, so the next step for me really was the senior job,” said Walsh. The club has a special place in my heart and I’m hoping we can bring home some silverware.

“I took over from Derek O’Byrne, who has coached the Passage seniors for the past two years and has put his heart and soul into the role. Derek is a Passage man to the core and deserves huge credit for a great job.”

Fresh from managing the 18s to a Division 1A league title last season, The father of three knows what it takes to be consistent and competitive and along with his coaching staff of Eoghan Fahy, Kevin Byrne and Ray Corkery, they will no doubt, leave no stone unturned as they compete for silverware this season.

“I suppose, like all teams, winning the league will be our main objective. We are a new team and it’s a lot of the lads’ first time playing together and of course we need to be realistic in what we can achieve in our first season. It really has been going good so far during pre-season and getting our first win of the league last week against Park so look we’re going to give it everything as a group and see where that takes us.

“I have a great backroom staff in the lads. Eoghan has played for Passage most of his playing career and played at the highest level with the club and this is his second year coaching and I have no doubt he will be a huge asset to the seniors.

“Kevin is the goalkeeping coach and again is a Passage man all his life and in my opinion one of the best keeper coaches around.

Ray is new to coaching like Eoghan it’s only his second year coaching but Ray brings a brilliant personality to the set-up and is one of the most committed men I have ever worked with.

“With regards to the squad, I certainly think we have found a good mixture of young and experienced players. A lot of the lads would have played for the club at some stage in their careers. The ages range from players in their 40s to players still playing youths.”

BOLSTERED

They have signed four new players and with the addition of four to five youths, have a very strong squad.

“The U18 season for me was one of the best in my coaching career, to be honest. Eoghan was one of the coaches last year with the 18s too and we went through the season only losing once. They were a brilliant bunch of players that really bought into what we were trying to achieve. A few of the lads are in the senior squad and it has been going really well for them. It’s a big jump to make from youths to senior but the lads are adapting well and we as coaches are there to look after them and make that transition as easy as possible.

“I played with Passage for most of my life at various grades. I started coaching at just 18. Like 99% of people in Passage we got involved because of John Murphy [Bird] and I also had the privilege to be coached for most of my schoolboy life by my dad Patrick, who really is my idol.

“Because of people like my dad and Bird, it drives us, the next generation on to bring through the next crop of players. I really do think it helps having a local man as manager. Knowing the background of the club and some of the most amazing people that put so much on the line when the club started is important to me. 

My partner Alison and my three kids are knee-deep in the club also and it’s one of the best parts. Having the post-match chat at home that could go on for hours. Brilliant!

“A lot of people that know me probably think I’m half mad and they are probably right, laughs Walsh. You have to be a bit mad to coach.”