Such was the level of praise for Michael 'Brick' Walsh on last night's Sunday Game, Des Cahill had to remind viewers that the Waterford great has not yet announced his retirement.
On Sunday, though Waterford had exited the championship, Walsh was surrounded by Deise supporters on the Semple Stadium pitch after the game.
Starting the game against Cork ensured that Brick became the hurling championship's all-time record appearance holder with 74, surpassing Brendan Cummins. Incredibly, those appearances have all been made consecutively.
"Hard and tough," was how Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan described Walsh on The Sunday Game. "He ability to do the right thing all the time, there's nothing flashy about him and, I suppose, he invented a skill himself."
"Imagine getting a skill called after yourself," said Anthony Daly before elaborating.
Every time we're coaching a team now, we coach the brick flick where you throw out the ball and you flick it off the hurley instead of the hand pass. Normally now with the tackling, you can't get the hand pass away. Brick throws it out and flicks it five yards.
It's actually something now when you get a bunch of under-14s together, you'll say it: 'No hand passing, lads, we're doing the brick flick' and every one of them will know - that's some tribute to a guy.
Former Galway camogie player Anne Marie Hayes described as the ultimate team player.
"He was such a selfless hurler too, he always laid off the ball to the guy in a better position. I'd say the only position he didn't play in was goals."
Michael 'Brick' Walsh broke a record today and he's had a skill named after him - the Brick Flick. Eddie Brennan, Anne Marie Hayes and Anthony Daly pay tribute to a wonderful career. #BrickFlick #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/rgaDvKjrhV
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 17, 2018
Picture credit: Sportsfile
