Aidan Walsh will be a key player against Aghabullogue: 'Kanturk's loss is An Ghaeltacht's gain'

Aidan Walsh will be wearing a red and white jersey this weekend as he eyes up more success in his glittering career.

The former Kanturk and Cork star transferred to Kerry side An Ghaeltacht at the start of this year. They face Aghabullogue in the AIB Munster Club IFC final tomorrow in Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale (4pm).

The 35-year-old has adjusted to his new club like a duck to water.

His first cousin, Ian Walsh, isn’t surprised by Aidan’s performances this year.

“For us anyway, he’s a huge player gone from our dressing room in both codes,” Ian says.

“He would be a big loss for Cork, never mind Kanturk. The biggest loss to be honest is his leadership skills and what he has been through as a player alone.

“He’s irreplaceable really and I am delighted he’s doing so well with An Ghaeltacht. He has been a big addition to them. 

"In his first season with them, he's after winning a county title and a divisional championship and has another chance of winning a Munster medal having done so with Kanturk in hurling.

“Kanturk’s loss is An Ghaeltacht’s gain really. They are using him really well.” 

It’s difficult to make your mark in the club championship in Kerry given the cut-throat nature of it. An Ghaeltacht will be considered senior contenders next year though.

“Aidan loves the GAA and he would fall in anywhere with any team. He’s so easy to get along with. He wouldn’t be awkward to deal with.

“The language barrier has been tricky for him. That might turn many off, but he persisted with it anyway and has a bit of Irish now.

“He’s willingness to try and succeed there is big for him because it was a big decision for him to leave Kanturk. The travelling was too much for him. Family comes first.” 

Ian feels it will be a strange one for Aidan coming up against a Cork team tomorrow while playing for a team in a different county. Aghabullogue will be underdogs going into it, but it has all the makings to be a very entertaining match.

“If I was putting myself in Aidan’s shoes, I would think he will find it a bit unusual playing a Cork team.

“The fact that the game is in Rathkeale is probably a positive. If the game was on in Mallow, it might have been tougher for Aidan. He still loves Kanturk and misses the club a lot.

“There’s no doubt about it, he wouldn’t see himself as a Kerry man anyway, he will always be a Cork man.”