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Irish Echo
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Walsh eyeing showdown with Kennelly as he finds his feet down under

After impressing on his senior debut last weekend, the former Kerry football star has been included in the squad for Saturday’s NAB Cup game against Geelong.

THEY MAY BE a long way from Páirc an Chrócaigh but Tommy Walsh is looking forward to the next time that he steps out onto a pitch with Tadhg Kennelly.

Today’s Irish Daily Mail carries quotes from Walsh who has already started to establish himself as part of the senior set-up at St. Kilda, the AFL side which he moved to in 2009. The former All-Ireland champion made an assured debut for the Saints in the NAB Cup last weekend, finishing with seven disposals and two uncontested marks in his side’s 44-15 win over the Brisbane Lions.

Saints coach Ross Lyon was so impressed by Walsh’s performance that he has included the rookie in his squad for Saturday evening’s game against Geelong at the Etihad Stadium. Captain Nick Riewoldt and Sam Gilbert, the two players involved in a nude photo controversy, have also been deemed fit to return to the squad this weekend.

Rather than let himself be distracted by the ongoing controversies surrounding the club and his agent Ricky Nixon, Walsh is concentrating instead on the prospect of squaring off against Kennelly when his former team-mate returns from injury.

It would be a great experience to play against each other. I’d say there’d be a few texts before that game amd we wouldn’t be holding back from one another on the field.

It’s just like playing for Kerry and then going back to play for your club. You play against your friends but for that hour you put friendship aside.

Kennelly has not been included in the Sydney Swans’ set-up for the NAB Cup, though he is expected to be fit and ready when the regular season begins at the end of March.

Saints’ fan Hallam Drury sent us on this video which highlights Tommy’s involvement in last weekend’s NAB Cup games. Looks like he’s settling in just fine.

Read more in the print edition of today’s Irish Daily Mail | View from Oz: Tommy Walsh makes assured AFL debut