Tommy Walsh: 'Cork football public are extremely passionate fans'

Tommy Walsh is after a brilliant 2026 so far even though we are still in the first few months of it.

The Kanturk star played a crucial role for University of Limerick as they won the Sigerson Cup last month for the first time.

They defeated Cork side UCC in the final at Croke Park. Tommy has also been a standout performer for the Cork senior footballers with John Cleary’s side in the promotion mix in the Allianz Division 2 Football League.

His form hasn’t gone unnoticed and last week he was in the spotlight, as winner of the monthly 96FM/C103 sports award held in association with co-sponsors Rochestown Park Hotel.

He's the first winner of 2026. Tommy follows in the footsteps of his brother Aidan Walsh, who previously won an award in November 2009, going on to be named Sports Star of the Year for 2009.

Tommy is the first Kanturk person to win a Sigerson Cup medal.

“It’s an honour to win this and also to be on the first UL team to win the Sigerson Cup,” he says.

“They would have had a lot of good teams over the years. We will always be remembered now, it’s something you will always take with you. I was delighted to be involved in it.

“The hurling is going from strength to strength every year in UL, but football was always looking for a space to push on. It came this year. The beauty of UL is that we had a host of different counties."

University of Limerick may have just won by three points in the final against UCC, but there was no doubt the team from Shannonside were full value for their success. It was a controlled showing.

“I suppose the game ebbed and flowed, UCC definitely had a few goal chances in the second half,” Tommy said.

“We did too in fairness. Coming down the home straight, we controlled it a bit more and saw it out. We were happy enough going home without a doubt. We actually stayed in Dublin after the game and it was nice to get to know everyone.

“The more trips you get to Croker, the happier you will be. Hopefully there will be a few more by the end of the year.” 

The Cork footballers are in with a shout of returning to Division 1 for the first time since 2016. They are currently on a warm-weather training camp in Portugal, but when they come back, just two more games remain in the league.

The Rebels meet Kildare at Páirc Uí Rinn tomorrow week and away to Tyrone at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh on Sunday, March 22.

The highlight so far would be the 1-23 to 1-21 victory over Meath at a bouncing Páirc Uí Rinn last Sunday week.

“It was a great win and a great day. It was a big opportunity for the group and we took it. With the backing of the crowd, we got our confidence up. There was still a bit of pressure on the day to come out and show it. We love playing in Páirc Uí Rinn, we train there the whole time.

“The Cork football public are extremely passionate fans. They might not be as big as the hurling support, but the football fans are extremely passionate about their football. They follow us all over the country.

“It’s a great opportunity that we have. As you said, it has been too long away from Division 1, it’s ten years this year.

“It’s a massive focus for the group. We are an ambitious group of players and hopefully we can get over the line.”