“Greatness does bring responsibilities.”
Newly appointed Meath manager Colm O’Rourke has voiced his opinion on Shane Walsh’s proposed transfer to Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes.
The flying forward had just put in the performance of his life in Galway’s All-Ireland final loss to Kerry, kicking nine points, and a week later released a statement saying that he wished to move clubs.
The Kilkerrin-Clonberne clubman explained that because he was living and studying in Dublin, the travel to and from the capital in order to make training and matches had taken its toll on him.
The 29-year-old wished to spend less time in the car or public transport and more time on the pitch, which is a reasonable stance to take of course.
However, much of the negative media around it stems from the idea that his own club is Intermediate while Kilmacud Crokes are giants of the club game, only just losing out in the All-Ireland final against Kilcoo earlier this year
This creates a perception that he is moving for the glory, but that is not why O’Rourke has been critical of the move, and believes that it is actually the timing of this decision that he finds troublesome.
In his weekly column with the Irish Independent, the Meath manager is of the opinion that the Galway star should wait at least a year to make this move, especially as his own club’s championship begins as soon as this Friday.
“If I was a confidant I would be telling him to finish off his championship with Kilkerrin-Clonberne and then have a long hard look at it next year.
“Greatness does bring responsibilities and if it was a question of cost, then I’m quite sure there are any amount of Galway people who would sponsor a car for him until his studies were finished. And inspiring his home club to success will always mean more than any medal with another team.”
