JOE Brolly surmised “Happiness is…watching Shane Walsh play football” on Sunday – though not everyone was in agreement.
Clearly Brolly was bowled over by the Galway talisman’s display as they held off a late comeback bid on the road against Down.
Not all of those 29 replies shared Brolly’s sentiment though[/caption]
The mercurial ace wound up with 1-7 though Sunday Game pundit Tomás Ó’Sé commented that he’d had a slow start to the game before eventually sparking into life.
Those contrasting views from two men who clearly know what they’re talking about sums up how Walsh splits opinion that like few other players across Gaelic football.
He can pull off a majestic strike like he did in the dying moments against Armagh whilst he can also be guilty of rash decision-making…like he was against Armagh when he cheaply coughed up possession from a late free with a risky cross-field pass.
Among the more glass half-empty replies, Donal asked: “Do you not think he’s underachieved considering his talent?”
While another more gruff follower added: “Is it aye? Shut the f*** up Joe.”
Finally another sceptic posted: “Not really. But overall, a few of the Down players are making this an interesting fixture.”
Against that, there were plenty of others who hailed the 32-year-old for playing through a shoulder injury that saw him subbed off late on.
One person (loudly) pondered: “How does Shane Walsh not get MAN OF THE MATCH for Galway against Down scoring 1-7 for Galway with shoulder injury Shane Walsh was SUPERMAN IN NEWRY today.”
While Jonathan simply chimed in with: “Some baller isn’t he.”
Walsh won’t have long to rest that shoulder as Padraic Joyce’s charges will be back out this weekend as they take on Meath in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
This morning’s draw was rounded out by Tyrone-Dublin, Armagh-Kerry and Monaghan-Donegal.
All four match-ups will be played out at Croke Park across June 28/29 with the CCCC to confirm throw-in times later today.
The various bumps and bruises sustained by the second/third seeds who came through the preliminary quarter-finals should mean the rested panels of Meath, Monaghan, Armagh and Tyrone automatically have an edge.
