Pádraig Walsh

Pádraig Walsh (born 12 March 1992) is an Irish hurler who plays as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Tullaroan, County Kilkenny, Walsh first played competitive hurling whilst at school in St. Kieran's College. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side. He joined the senior panel during the 2012 league. Since then Walsh has become a regular member of the starting fifteen and has won two All-Ireland medals, two Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal.

At club level Walsh plays with Tullaroan.

Walsh's grandfather, Paddy Grace, as well as his brother, Tommy, have also enjoyed All-Ireland success with Kilkenny. His sister, Grace, is a key member of the Kilkenny senior camogie team.

Colleges

During his schooling at St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny, Walsh established himself as a key member of the senior hurling team. In 2010 he won a Leinster medal following a 3-13 to 1-11 defeat of Dublin Colleges. On 3 April 2010 St. Kieran's faced Ardscoil Rís in the All-Ireland decider. Walsh's side trailed by five points as the game entered the final quarter, however, St. Kieran's staged a magnificent comeback, hitting 1-5 without reply including a Michael Brennan goal in the 51st minute, to claim a 2-11 to 2-8 victory. The victory gave Walsh an All-Ireland medal.

Minor and under-21

Walsh first played for Kilkenny in 2009 when he joined the minor side. He played no part in Kilkenny's 1-19 to 0-11 trouncing of Wexford in the provincial decider, however, he was sprung from the bench in the subsequent All-Ireland decider against Galway. A devastating second quarter display was pivotal in powering Galway to a 2-15 to 2-11 victory.

In 2010 Walsh was in his final year on the minor team. He won his first Leinster medal on the field of play that year following a 1-20 to 0-10 trouncing of Dublin. The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Kilkenny against Clare. "The Cats" were made to work hard before securing a narrow 2-10 to 0-14 victory, giving Walsh an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.

Two years later Walsh was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 4-24 to 1-13 trouncing of Laois. Kilkenny later faced Clare in the All-Ireland decider. A powerful second-half display, in which they outscored Kilkenny 1-10 to 0-4, saw Clare take their second ever All-Ireland under-21 crown.

Senior

Walsh joined the Kilkenny senior team as a member of the extended panel in 2012. He later collected a National Hurling League medal as an unused substitute following a 3-21 to 0-16 demolition of old rivals Cork.

During the 2013 league campaign Walsh became a more regular member of the team. He won a second consecutive league medal that year, albeit as an unused substitute once again, following a 2-17 to 0-20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider. He later made his championship debut on 28 June 2013 in a 1-16 to 0-16 Leinster semi-final replay defeat by Dublin.

Walsh won his first league medal on the field in 2014, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2-25 to 1-27 extra-time victory over Tipperary. He subsequently secured his first Leinster medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0-24 to 1-9 defeat of Dublin. On 7 September 2014 Walsh lined out in his first All-Ireland decider with Tipperary providing the opposition. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw. The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair. Goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2-17 to 2-14 victory. It was Walsh' first All-Ireland medal.

Walsh won a second successive Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider.

Playing honours

• All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2010

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2014, 2015
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (3): 2014, 2015, 2016
• National Hurling League (1): 2014
• Walsh Cup (1): 2014
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2012
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2010