A battle for the ages.
Out of all the sub-plots in Kilkenny and Galway’s Leinster final tussle, the most eagerly anticipated was undoubtedly the meeting of Walter Walsh and Daithí Burke.
Kilkenny’s 6 ft 5 inch Tullogher Rosbercon tank Walter Walsh is one of the most physically imposing hurlers in the game. A Leinster rugby academy player in his formative years, the big, burly forward has been one of the most feared attackers in the game ever since he burst onto the scene with five from play during his championship debut season in the 2012 All-Ireland final.
He’s been a mainstay in the black and amber ever since and he’s been the torment of back men all over the country during that time.
For the first time in a long time, however Kilkenny would go into a Leinster final as underdogs. The reason the Cats came into the Croke Park showdown under the radar is because Galway look like a new team now.
On the back of last season’s All-Ireland final triumph, the Tribesmen have progressed to a completely different level in the early stages of this year’s championship.
One of the key cogs in the maroon machine is their ferocious full back Daithí Burke. The Turloughmore terrier minds the house like a pedigree guard dog at number three and it always takes something special to get past him.
Tenacious in the tackle, the All-Ireland club winning footballer with Corofin also has a serious level of upper body strength that sets him apart.
The pair went face to face on the edge of the square in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon and they went at it hammer and tongs. Blow for blow, ball for ball, Burke and Walsh went at it hard but they went at it fair.
In a scrappy opening half, Walsh won his share of possession to set up a few valuable scores for the Cats. In the opening few minutes of the game, Walsh laid down a marker when he blew Burke out of the water.
After Galway had outmuscled Kilkenny so comprehensively in Pearse Stadium last month, that was crucial for Brian Cody’s men.
Burke, true to his style, was quick to fight back, horsing Walsh out of it down by the sideline a few moments later.
VIDEO CREDIT: RTÉ.
That’s some battle, and with only one point between the sides at the break, it tells a story in itself that these two giants can’t be separated.
