Amazing journey to an All-Ireland final for Rossa man Walsh
March 12, 2015
Gerard Walsh receives his award from UGAAW chairman John Martin at the Rossa clubrooms on Shaw's Road, Belfast. Pic by John McIlwaine
All-Ireland intermediate club winner Gerard Walsh of Antrim side O'Donovan Rossa is made of stern stuff.
The Antrim minor this week lifted the Ulster GAA Writers' Association merit award for February for his part in Rossa's All-Ireland triumph - but the 17-year-old may not have made the Croke Park date at all, having been involved in TWO traffic accidents in the week before the final.
Walsh was the driver in a minor crash the Sunday before the final, and five days later was knocked down as a pedestrian - just 48 hours before delivering a man of the match performance at headquarters.
The A-level student had been given a day off school to practice frees before the final, and after six hours practice was walking back home when upended by a motorist whilst crossing the road. Nothing was going to keep him from playing in an All-Ireland final however.
With determination and dedication like that, it's hardly surprising that he saw off Kilburn Gaels in the final and took the Ulster GAA Writers' Award ahead of Slaughtneil midfielder Patsy Bradley, who was 'man-of-the-match' in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final, and Darren McCurry who turned in some good performances with Tyrone in the Allianz League.
The presentation was made at the Rossa GAA Complex in Belfast with Gerard receiving a Belleek Living engraved vase, specially designed silver cuff links from Carlingford Design House and training gear from O'Neill International Sports. He will also receive two tickets and overnight accommodation for the UGAAWA 27th annual banquet, at Great Northern Hotel Bundoran, later this year.
