Walsh brothers go head to head

Walsh brothers go head to head


Preview
Rob Murphy

THIS fixture would be compelling even without the backdrop.
Before Connemara went senior, their meeting with Westport was a fierce derby in its own right. The mighty All Blacks had the edge overall, but the two teams had some thundering battles in league and cup.
Westport brothers Eddie and John Paul Walsh played in many of them and remember them well. Big crowds in Carrowholly or Monastery Field watching club rugby at its very best. On Saturday next in Clifden, they’ll both be on the sidelines wearing different colours.
Eddie is spearheading a total rebuild of the Connemara first 15 after their relegation from the All-Ireland League, and keeping them in Division 1a of the Connacht Junior League is his number one priority.
John Paul took over for his second stint in charge of Westport along with Danny O’Toole last November, and by December, the revival of their fortunes was well under way. The fixture this weekend is causing quite a stir in the west Mayo town.
“There has been a bit of banter there, especially over Christmas,” said John Paul. “I have pretty much everyone in our house on my side anyway. Even Eddie’s young lad Sam confirmed his allegiance remains with Westport. I’m his godfather, so he’s angling for a continued flow of presents there as well!”
While Westport were idle last weekend, Connemara had a Junior Cup clash with OLBC at a windswept and saturated Sportsground which they lost narrowly.
“The biggest problem will be the mother at home doesn’t know who to support,” said Eddie Walsh. “The only one on my side will be my wife (Eileen)! But let’s hope the weather stays good and both teams have a really good go at it. Our lads will be well up for it.”
Eddie was speaking just minutes after that frustrating defeat to OLBC as he came to terms with an early cup exit.
“It’s disappointing because we had chances,” he said. “We probably should have been further ahead with the wind at half time, but to let it slip late on is hard to take. We’ve turned a corner of late, we are definitely making progress.”
John Paul Walsh is quick to echo those thoughts. Like a lot of coaches in the league, he has been taken aback by the progress the famed Galway club made in such a short space of time with a young, inexperienced squad.
“He’s done a great job over there, I thought he was stone daft to do it initially and the numbers at training were very low at the beginning. They had hit a real low point, but he’s built it up slowly and he has a really good young panel now. They beat us (Westport) back in September and have what it takes.”
The siblings were joint coaches for two seasons at Westport. So what are the main differences in their coaching philosophies?
“Eddie is good with the skill drills in training and I’d be more focused on the little details, the technical stuff that might make a small difference,” said John Paul. “In terms of motivating, I’d be a bit more aggressive I guess, and he’s a bit more passionate.”
Eddie has a more straightforward way of putting it.
“I’m the good cop, he’s the bad cop.”
But there’s no fear of split loyalties for the former Westport out-half.
“I’m the head coach of Connemara and that’s my club, and I’m doing everything I can here to get us moving forward and keep us out of the bottom two,” he said. “If we win next Saturday, I’ll be happy as Larry. They’ve been great to me here, I really feel part of the club and I’m enjoying it.”

Fixture
Connacht Junior League
Connemara v Westport

Saturday, January 11
Monastery Field, 2.30pm