David Walsh glad to help out with Naomh Brid young guns

The Yes Chef Division 3 league got underway last Saturday and there was a familiar figure on the sideline in Trummon when Naomh Brid took on neighbours, Pettigo.

The home side, with a young team, proved too strong for the border club, who are back up to Division 3.

Walsh, an All-Ireland winner with Donegal, says he was just glad to help out.

“Yeah, I’ve been a few years out but when you’re asked to come back to your home club, it’s always hard to say no. Listen, we’re back and the boys have put in a good bit of work over the last few weeks.

“We knew today, a local derby, wouldn't be easy but the boys got over the line,” said David Walsh, after watching his side overcome local rivals Pettigo.

Walsh is back alongside another former playing stalwart Donal ‘Skimmer’ Martin. “Donal is the same as myself, had a couple of years out and he was only delighted to  come back in.

“We got relegated last year and we realised we needed to come in and add a bit of freshness to the whole thing. The boys were delighted to have us back. It’s going well but it’s still very early,” says Walsh.

Naomh Brid started the first game with five young players making their senior debut on the day - Patrick Gormley, Cale Breslin, Tadhg McGarrigle, Donal Gallagher and Callum McCafferty, which is a great boost to any club.

“To be fair over the last few years there have been a few managers that came in and didn’t have the luxury of having five young fellows coming in. But that was one of the things, when I was asked to come in, I knew that it was important that them guys were guided the right way, especially with a team that was coming down.

“The talent is there and all they need is a wee bit of guidance, because they are very young.”
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1464625/ciaran-thompson-marks-special-milestone-with-a-stellar-performance-in-croke-park.html

Over the last few years the club has had four players in county minor squads which is very unusual and also three of the panel were on the Abbey VS team which recently won an All-Ireland Colleges B title.

“It’s unusual (for Naomh Brid). For any club to have them kind of medals at such a young age is unusual. So we are just blessed and delighted and a lot of that goes to the coaches that brought those lads up the whole way. But we needed that bit of injection of youth and we’re just lucky to have such good talent.”

Apart from the lads who played for the Abbey VS (Donal Gallagher, Patrick Gormley and Aaron McGrory), Walsh was pleased for Cale Breslin, Tadhg McGarrigle.

“They are great lads and those two in particular. They would have played with them lads that have won All-Irelands and I must say they could have had them medals too but maybe went down a different road. Their attitude has been very professional.”

JIM MCGUINNESS

Walsh was also very encouraged for Donegal with the return of Jim McGuinness, who he played under when they won the All-Ireland in 2012. He feels he will do well with Donegal.

“It was sort of the right time for Jim McGuinness as well. You could see that the levels over the last few years I could see particularly had dropped off. And I knew it needed a freshness and I knew what Jim and the rest of the lads, Colm (McFadden) and Neil (McGee) were going to take to it.

“And you can see now that it is going in the right direction again,” said Walsh.

The Naomh Brid man feels it is all about maintaining high standards and he expects Donegal to have success.

“It’s kinda that thing, it’s like getting the water hot enough. If you can get it hot enough and keep it hot, that’s the level you have to get to, that highest level and keep it there.

Injuries and one thing and another can be a bit of a spanner in the works. Look, they are going in a very good direction and I wouldn’t be betting against them down the road.”

With Donegal having a lot of new and young players, Walsh feels McGuinness is the right man to develop them.

“You’ve got to look at it too, Jim, what he adds to it. A lot of these young lads that’s playing now were only kids when Jim won the All-Ireland so that figurehead of Jim is bringing them even above the levels that they can play at.”

And will David Walsh bring some of what he learned under Jim McGuinness to bear on Naomh Brid in the coming years?

“Listen, you try to learn bits and pieces from loads of managers down the road and try and bring them all together. We have to work with what we have, but it is the attitude of the players, no more than what Jim tries to instil; if you have an honest attitude it will bring you a long way,” said Walsh.