I wish to announce my retirement from intercounty hurling. For the last 13 years I have had the time of my life, lived my dream and have memories that will stay with me forever.Firstly and most importantly I want to sincerely thank my wife and family for their continuous encouragement, support and drive throughout my intercounty career.
I have been very fortunate and privileged to play along side terrific teammates and I thank them for being just that. It was also an absolute honour to play against many outstanding hurlers from all over the country.
I would like to thank Brian Cody for his loyalty throughout all my years with Kilkenny and for believing in me as a player.
Most importantly I want to thank each one of the management teams since 2002 for their support and advice, also the medics, back room staff and especially the one and only Rakard Cody who has been a great friend to us all.
The county board have always been hugely supportive and have always put the players first, this of which I will never forget as it laid the foundations for our recent success. Equally I would like to thank my employers Bank Of Ireland for their understanding and support throughout my intercounty career.
My club Tullaroan has always been very special to me. I owe them for the amazing opportunity I got to play for Kilkenny. This is mainly down to the teachers in the primary school and all the devoted coaches in the club. I will forever be indebted to you all. I will always be grateful for my time spent in St Kieran’s College and UCC where I learned valuable lessons that were of huge benefit to my hurling career.
Thanks to my friends and mentor from outside the county set up, who challenged and supported me aswell as always being there for advice when I needed it most. This I will never forget.
I’d like to thank the GPA for their constant support of players all over the country. They provide many valuable services which deal with the welfare of their players. This I know is a huge comfort to all players and the GPA deserve huge credit for this.
Last but not least I finally want to thank the supporters. From day one they showered me with support. I will never forget their continued encouragement, especially in my final year, simply thank you.
I wish the management and players continued success for the coming years.
As a Cork man I must say I loved watching him in action he was truly awesome but I’m definitely not sorry to see him go! Best of luck in the future to him, legend of the game
As hurling fan he is huge loss to the game but as Tipp man I’m relieved he is finally moving on. Like Shefflin and JJ a true legend of the game and one of the most influential hurler of his generation. Hard to believe rival counties won’t be happy to not have to encounter him anymore…
All Stars in almost every position, easily one of the best hurlers I’ve seen play. Sad to see him go, his outrageous catches from behind much larger men were a joy to watch
Thought this was coming. He won’t be the last to retire this year either. He should have got a few mins in the All Ireland final too. Great servant to KK hurling. Tommy you’ll be missed. Thank you!
It brought a tear to my eye to hear this news this morning, Tommy is without a doubt one of the greatest hurlers to ever put on a hurling Jersey…he made the half back position his own and has given all hurling fans from Kilkenny and further afield many happy memories, us in Tullaroan were always so proud to call him one of our own and are so proud of all he has achieved!an absolute credit to his parents, wife and family!#legend #TW5
An absolute genius as a hurler, never mind the 9 All Ireland’s but the 9 All Stars says it all both in attack and defence. But it must be said he was one of the dirtiest players to ever grace the field. Played way over the edge not just on it. I never saw a player get away with so many dirty strokes.
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As a Tipp man it kills me to say it, but he was one of the finest hurlers to ever grace a field, and not just at wing back.
From a Wexford man I have to agree.
Think he got all stars at;
Full Back
Half Back
Midfield
Half Forward; and
Full Forward
As a Cork man I must say I loved watching him in action he was truly awesome but I’m definitely not sorry to see him go! Best of luck in the future to him, legend of the game
He should come back and play in goal for a year.
And probably win the all star for that as well
As hurling fan he is huge loss to the game but as Tipp man I’m relieved he is finally moving on. Like Shefflin and JJ a true legend of the game and one of the most influential hurler of his generation. Hard to believe rival counties won’t be happy to not have to encounter him anymore…
I wonder will lar corbet follow him?
All Stars in almost every position, easily one of the best hurlers I’ve seen play. Sad to see him go, his outrageous catches from behind much larger men were a joy to watch
Immense hurler. Played on the edge. That’s the way all greats played. Absolute pleasure watching him.
Thought this was coming. He won’t be the last to retire this year either. He should have got a few mins in the All Ireland final too. Great servant to KK hurling. Tommy you’ll be missed. Thank you!
Unbelievable player teak tough and seriously skilfull !!! Will be regarded as one of the greatest ever !!!
He broke our rebel hearts but I have great respect for him.
The atmosphere in a stadium would go up a notch or two whenever he touched the ball. Simply brilliant player
One of the finest fielders of the ball the game has ever seen.
Legend
The finest hurler I’ve seen play game. Enjoy your retirement you little bo//ocks.
Legend of the game and a huge favourite for all Kilkenny supporters. Up to his brother Padraig now to follow on from 2014 and carry on his legacy.
Top class. Tommy Walsh , Peter Barry and JJ Delaney . What a half back line they were in their prime
It brought a tear to my eye to hear this news this morning, Tommy is without a doubt one of the greatest hurlers to ever put on a hurling Jersey…he made the half back position his own and has given all hurling fans from Kilkenny and further afield many happy memories, us in Tullaroan were always so proud to call him one of our own and are so proud of all he has achieved!an absolute credit to his parents, wife and family!#legend #TW5
A loss to the game, a fair clean stylish hurler.
Is this sarcasm?!
We’ll never see the likes of tommy again, gave 110% every time he walked onto the field, never found wanting in the 13 years he’s been hurling for KK.
One of the best I’ve ever seen he was a joy to watch, I wish him all the best
Thanks for memories Tommy, my favourite KK player of All Time
What a legend, what a career and has the medals and awards to prove it
Best fielder of the ball in Ireland
I’ll miss him catching and clearing the ball, what a legend. Best of luck in his future.
What a hurler…that is all…
I’m sure he’s nothing short of an absolute gentleman off the pitch but, flip me I hated seeing his name on the opposition team sheet!
Can Wexford buy him for a year? Awesome hurler. One of the greatest.
Legend
Happy retirement & also this will help to stop Kilkenny keeping winning!
Wait till we see what replaces him first
They won last year and he barely featured, amazingly a player of his abilities was surplus to requirements.
Yeah, his brother easily kept him off the team last year.
Legendary
He was also a dirty hurler, Shefflin and Coady should should follow him
Are ya still a little sore over the All Ireland! Delighted to sicken lads like u! Best of luck Tommy with the retirement. #Legend
An absolute genius as a hurler, never mind the 9 All Ireland’s but the 9 All Stars says it all both in attack and defence. But it must be said he was one of the dirtiest players to ever grace the field. Played way over the edge not just on it. I never saw a player get away with so many dirty strokes.
Eddie you are a plonker !
Some man!!!!