BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
In October, Miriam Walsh retired from Inter-County Senior Camogie following a highly successful career in which she won 3 Senior All-Ireland Medals, 5 National League Medals, 3 All-Stars and was also named Camogie Player Of The Year in 2022.
Having joined The Senior set-up in 2011, Miriam played a key role as part of Loreto Kilkenny’s 4-in-a-row of Senior Colleges All-Ireland triumphs from 2010-2013, while in 2013 she was part of the Kilkenny team that won the Minor All-Ireland Final against Cork.
Following the disappointments of losing Senior All-Ireland Finals in 2013 and 2014, Miriam was part of the Kilkenny Team that won the All-Ireland Senior Final against Cork in 2016 as they lifted The O’Duffy Cup for the first time in 22 years(1994).
Kilkenny completed The League/Championship double in 2016, and they retained The League in both 2017 and in 2018 as they completed a three-in-a-row of League final triumphs.
Unfortunately, Kilkenny suffered a three-in-a-row of All-Ireland Final defeats in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but they bounced back to winning ways in 2020 under new manager Brian Dowling as they defeated Galway in a thrilling All-Ireland Final.
Another League Final triumphed also against Galway in 2021, before Kilkenny lost the All-Ireland Semi-Final by a point to Cork.
However, they bounced back to winning ways in 2022, in what was a most memorable year for The Tullaroan native. Kilkenny won The All-Ireland Final against Cork as a late Sophie O’Dwyer goal gave them victory, with Miriam winning her third Senior All-Ireland Medal.
She was named Camogie Player of The Year following a string of outstanding performances as she also picked up her third All-Star, while the weekend of The All-Stars was extra special for Miriam as she married Noel McGree from Freshford.
Miriam enjoyed glory with Tullaroan when winning County Intemediate and Leinster Medals in 2015.
Unfortunately, her final two seasons with The Black and Amber were plagued by injury and ACL damage sustained in 2023 left her sidelined for a year. However, Miriam departs The Inter-County scene after a most successful career following in the footsteps of her cousin Grace Walsh having played so many games together for Club and County.
Meanwhile, The Camogie All-Stars take place tonight in Croke Park Friday 15th November and very best wishes to Danielle Morrissey who has been nominated for Intermediate Player of The Year.
Danielle is one of 4 players to have been named on The Soaring Stars Team along with Cliona Murphy, Mairead Kennedy and Hannah Scott, and the quartet will be presented with their awards at the ceremony in Croke Park tonight.
