TOMMY WALSH IS set make his return to football with Kerry in the McGrath Cup next month.
Walsh, who announced in early October that he was ending his AFL career with the Sydney Swans to return home, will be in line to play in the Kingdom’s McGrath Cup game against IT Tralee on the second weekend of January.
Walsh played 15 times in league and championship for Kerry between 2007 and 2009, scoring 4-23 before making the move to Australia to play for St Kilda in 2009. The Kerins O’Rahilly’s club man transferred to Sydney Swans in 2011 where injuries, including a serious hamstring problem, stalled his development.
The 26-year-old’s return comes at an opportune time for the All-Ireland champions after the retirement of Declan O’Sullivan.
Meanwhile, five-time All-Ireland winner and long-serving defender Marc Ó Sé has confirmed via social media that he has no plans to retire. Speaking via Twitter after the launch of the new Kerry jersey recently, he said: “I will have to give the new jersey a run-out in 2015 and see how it feels.”
When pressed as to whether he would be looking to overtake his brother Tomás’s championship appearance record, he replied. “I won’t be too worried about his record, but looking forward to a long year hopefully.”
O Sé made his 80th championship appearance in the All-Ireland final against Donegal — just one behind brother Darragh and eight shy of Tomás, who holds the national record of 88 senior championship appearances.
Marc and Colm Cooper are the longest serving members of the Kerry panel; they both made their senior championship debuts in 2002.
Originally published at 08.12