Meath's recently anointed manager, Colm O'Rourke, has questioned the timing of the decision by Galway star Shane Walsh to transfer to Kilmacud Crokes.
In his column with the Irish Independent, O'Rourke wrote,
If timing is everything in life, then Walsh couldn’t have got it more wrong."
O'Rourke argues that because Walsh's current club, Kilkerrin-Clonberne, have a Galway intermediate Championship match against Headford this Friday, Walsh's application for a move has brought unwanted media attention at the wrong time.
Shane Walsh has explained his reasoning for the proposed move in detail. He is currently studying to become a PE teacher at the Portobello Institute, and the frequent commute to Galway for training is far from ideal, and as Walsh says, the travel "takes its toll on the body."
O'Rourke Disagrees With Shane Walsh Move
Fair reasons put forward by a young man who is planning for his future. However, his reasoning doesn't seem strong enough for O'Rourke.
If I was a confidant I would be telling him to finish off his championship with Kilkerrin-Clonberne and then have a long hard look at it next year.
Greatness does bring responsibilities and if it was a question of cost, then I’m quite sure there are any amount of Galway people who would sponsor a car for him until his studies were finished. And inspiring his home club to success will always mean more than any medal with another team."
24 July 2022; Shane Walsh of Galway during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
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It is certainly an old-school view from O'Rourke, and he seems to ignore that Shane Walsh has stated that it is not the financial aspect of the travel he is concerned with, and the fact that he has said he plans on finishing is career with Kilkerrin-Clonberne.
In terms of unwanted media attention, Kilkerrin-Clonberne have done themselves no favour by increasing the furore and attempting to block the transfer.
Club chairman, Ian Hynes, stated last week that, "We are going to fight this all the way."
Former Mayo footballer and All Star, Conor Mortimer, also gave warning to Shane Walsh. Mortimer was part of similar transfer when he moved to Dublin club Parnells, and he spoke earlier in the week of potential animosity that could arise within Kilmacud Croke should Shane Walsh make the move.
"There was a bit of animosity within the club," said Mortimer on his move to Parnells.
"It has been touched on this week... the likes of Shane Walsh going into Kilmacud Crokes, there's probably somebody going to lose out on getting into that Crokes team who has won a minor A, U21 A, maybe one or two of them coming up through the ranks."
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