Tommy Walsh was a hurler who let his actions speak for themselves.
The Tullaroan man wasn’t shy on the field, but you felt that he was never too bothered in speaking to the media.
Yes he was polite, but in that typical Kilkenny way he would say a lot, without really saying anything.
And it is a measure of the man that a wonderful story of friendship, of hurling bonds, and just absolute class has emerged this afternoon in a wonderful chat with former Offaly hurler Michael Duignan in the Daily Mail that no-one has ever known apart from the two men.
2009 was Tommy Walsh’s greatest ever season. All-Ireland winner again, and hurler of the year, he was simply untouchable.
But just a week after beating Tipperary in a thriller, he decided to post a special package to the grieving family of former Offaly All-Ireland winner Michael Duignan.
The TV pundit firstly explains what he received in the post from the Kilkenny legend.
“On my side my wife Edel sadly died that September, the Sunday after the All-Ireland Final. You sent a parcel down to the house with Aidan Fogarty who used to hurl with Offaly, with jerseys and socks and togs and your red helmet which my son Sean wore for years after. The helmet was signed inside. It meant an awful lot.”
Walsh then explains why he sent it to the Offaly man’s house, and what prompted him to get in touch to offer his condolences and support, in such a typically understated way.
“When I was young Bill Hennessy played with Kilkenny. I remember my mother gave him a programme, I think it was Antrim v Kilkenny in an All-Ireland semi-final. He had the whole Kilkenny team sign it and bring it back to me.”
“That meant so much to a young lad. Coming onto a county team you’re trying to be modest, trying to look at it from a kid’s perspective. You’re just hoping that it would help.”
Tommy Walsh is a hurling hero, and if it was possible, he has become even more of a legend after this story.
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