KERRY FOOTBALL HAS been handed another boost with the news that Tommy Walsh is leaving Sydney Swans at the end of the year and returning to Ireland at the end of 2014.
The 26-year-old was drafted by St. Kilda in 2009, a month after winning the All-Ireland with Kerry and was subsequently traded to the Sydney Swans in 2011. Walsh made five senior appearances for the Swans over three seasons, featuring in both attack and defence.
His return home will be a welcome addition for the newly crowned All-Ireland champions, who also expect see Colm Cooper step up his return from a knee injury in the coming months.
Walsh told Swans TV that he would look back on his time Down Under with fond memories.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” he said. “It’s the best thing I ever did.
“To be able to experience professional sport in two great cities with two great clubs, I’ve met a lot of great people and I’ll have friends for the rest of my life over here.
“I’m not sure when, but I’m looking forward to coming back over here already for a holiday a few years down the line and catching up with everyone again.”
The Kerry native said personal highlight was when he made his AFL debut against Melbourne in Sydney with his family looking on.
“Getting my first game was obviously a great experience and was something I had been working towards for a long time,” he said.
“To have my family over here was great.”
He added that he will return to play with his club and hinted a return to Kerry is also on the cards.
“It was obviously something I wanted to do since I came out here, and I always knew I’d be going back and after five years here I knew that the time was right,” he said.
“I’ll be going back to my club Kerins O’Rahilly’s and I don’t know, but maybe Kerry as well.”
