Speaking on Thursday’s OTB AM, Kilkenny legend Tommy Walsh stopped just short of ruling out ever taking on an inter-county management job but said that he planned his foreseeable future working with his Kilkenny club, Tullaroan.
Walsh was replying to comments made by Daithí Regan on Monday’s OTB AM that smaller counties should look to former great players like Walsh in an attempt to replicate the success of Laois hurling under former Kilkenny player Eddie Brennan.
"There is a bit of a message here for other teams," suggested Regan, "to look at the likes of Kilkenny and some of those marvelous players there who won all those All-Ireland medals."
"Wouldn't I love to see the Offaly county board go to Tommy Walsh and say, 'Listen, if you've any ambition would you come and talk to us? We'd like to talk to you,'" Regan added.
"Imagine having a guy like Tommy Walsh walking into your camp and saying, 'I'm your new manager for the next couple of years.'”
While Walsh appeared flattered he laughed off any hint of him joining Offaly or any other county as a manager.
“I didn't hear it but I got a few texts and was on the Google straight away to see what he was saying,” Walsh said on Thursday’s show.
While Walsh said that he “wouldn’t rule anything out” he said that his primary ambition was to spend his future working with his own club in Kilkenny, Tullaroan.
“It will be club now til the end of my days, I would imagine. I won't rule anything out but that's the way I see it.”
“I spent so many years with Kilkenny, I couldn't wait, I suppose, in the final few years to get back with my club. I'm back with Tullaroan now and I just love it.
“I'm involved with the underage along with some great lads now. When you're playing county you think that's the only thing and you think you're a good club man but sure you're not at all.
“The work that goes into clubs is unbelievable and that's just to survive that's not even to be successful. I swore, that when I finished up with Kilkenny that for a good number of years anyway – and I’d say until my remaining days – I will just be putting everything I can into the club. Because I just love it.
“Listen, I love it I won't ever go outside the county and I wouldn't even see myself ever working with Kilkenny itself.”
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