Mickey holding court once more
Eugene Kennedy and Mickey Walsh with Handball President Conor McDonagh, family and friends at the recent Over-70s final in Croke Park. Picture: GAA Handball
Mickey Walsh is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Roscommon handballer returned to competitive action recently following a 21-year absence as he progressed to the 4-Wall (previously 40 x 20) All-Ireland Over-70s final.
Although he came up short in that national decider against Dublin’s Eugene Kennedy, who is now based in Boyle, the successful return — after over decades out of the game because of a back injury — has certainly caught the eye.
Walsh downplays the significance of his comeback. By simply watching his grandchildren Jaden, Michael and Sienna develop an interest in the sport, it helped him unlock the magic once more.
Training alongside Paddy McDermott and the Coggeran brothers — John and David — helped the man with 40 All-Ireland medals recapture the magic of old.
Add in some successful persuasion by recent 4-Wall All-Ireland Senior Singles finalists Fiona Tully and the St. Coman’s handballer decided to give competitive handball another crack.
“My grandson (Jaden) was tipping away and Aengus Cunningham was coaching away. Next thing I got roped into it and I said I would give it a try.
“Fiona Tully was on to me about entering the championship and she talked me round. I didn’t have any intention of playing competitively, especially after a back injury, but I was always careful.
“With Noel McHugh (physio) helping me out, I have been able to manage myself. My first game back was the Over-70s Connacht final. I won that and then won the semi-final. I didn’t know where I was the first day but I got through before losing to Eugene. He is always hard beaten, but I was going into the unknown after the length of time I was out, so luckily I got through it all okay,” he explained.
The multiple All-Ireland winner was able to enjoy great success due to his fitness. He certainly enjoyed a different training regime to the modern player.
“If I was younger playing in today’s game, it wouldn’t have bothered me. I felt I was as fit as anyone at that time, but I was unlucky that Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh was around. A lot of the time I would have taken him to three games. If I played now, I would be with the times and go to the gym and diet. You try to win whatever way you can and do what you need to,” he noted.
After a life spent around the handball courts of Ireland, Walsh enjoys many great memories. However, three spring to mind when he casts his mind back to a time between the 1960s through to the end of the 1980s during the sport’s golden period.
“Winning Handballer of the Year in 1987 was a highlight. I remember the BNI sponsored the award. They were a ferry line back then and it was a huge honour to win that award.
“One I always remember is winning the Top Ace (a groundbreaking television series pitting Ireland’s best handballers against each other) in ’79. I was drawn against Richie Lyng from Wexford in the first round. He was the senior All-Ireland champion and the Top Ace champion.
“You had Joe O’Brien from Roscommon, I played him in the final of that. You had to qualify just to get into the tournament. Only eight fellas were in it, so the winner and runner-up from the previous year qualified. Lyng and Joe O’Brien, who was runner-up, qualified, so you had to work hard to get there,” he pointed out.
Walsh also recalls playing Greg Sheridan of Cavan in the 1987 (40 x 20) final.
“That was up in Croke Park, and I remember at the time it was a big deal to win it because it was so tough. Luckily, I won in two straight games. I played well and I was glad to win that,” he explained.
Walsh is an historian of the game as he vividly recalls the great players that paved the way before him and the ones that helped him write his own pieces of history. The “forgotten man of Roscommon handball” Paddy Perry jumps to Walsh’s mind, while the names roll of the tongue for the St. Coman’s handballer.
Joe O’Brien, PJ Moran, Dermot Doolin, Pakie Hoare, Gerry Mahon, Kevin Fullard, Paddy Joe Hoare, Jimmy Menton, Pat Clarke, Mark O’Gara, Stephen French, Martin Bruen, Noel Raftery and Noel Mannion are other players from the county that Walsh recalls With Tommy Greally Sr. and PJ Casey Sr. providing spins up and down the country, particularly in his early days on the scene, alongside his wife Bríd and his kids Sandra and Glenn supporting him every step of the way, Walsh is quick to remember those that helped him furrow a path towards glory.
Despite being a talented footballer, representing his county at minor level, Walsh insisted that there was only one sport for him.
“I always liked handball. It was that simple really. When you are winning games, you are getting invited to places all over the country. You could find yourself in Newport, Ashbourne, anywhere really. I was always looking forward to playing.
“I liked football too, but I couldn’t keep the two of them going. I won an U-14, U-16, minor and U-21 with the (Roscommon) Gaels. I had tournaments every Sunday and I was better at the handball. The games started to clash, and I just couldn’t make it all work. When you start to win at a sport, you are more likely to stick with it,” he highlighted.
The St. Coman’s handballer hopes to build on his run to the 4-Wall All-Ireland Over-70 finals as he aims to take on another challenge, competing against the best in the world.
Walsh has his eye on representing his country and county in the 4-Wall World Championships which are being held in venues across Dublin, Kilkenny, Laois and Carlow between October 26th and November 3rd.
“Hopefully I can have a go at the Worlds provided I have no injuries. I will take it week by week. At my age you can’t be planning too far ahead but hopefully I can give it a go. The likes of (Eugene) Kennedy should be there alongside handballers from America and Mexico. We will see how it goes,” he concluded.
With Mickey Walsh’s competitive streak, alongside his legendary status in the game, the days of Roscommon’s most successful handballer making the headlines aren’t over just yet.
