On match day at Eamonn Deacy Park Stephen Connolly arranges the press interviews. Everybody knew what Stephen Walsh’s answer would be, but Connolly just chanced asking the question anyway.
In fairness to the Galway Hibernians' stalwart his talking was undoubtedly done between the chalk lines on Friday.
Pressed into service as a central striker Walsh added physicality and presence to the United attack. There was poise too with some neat touches and the clinical manner in which an equaliser was converted against Waterford FC.
John Caulfield acknowledged Walsh’s rich contribution. “I think he is one of those guys, you ask Walshy to play left back, centre back, midfield or centre forward, you know you are going to get 100 per cent honesty and work rate,” Caulfield says.
“He came into the game, he made an immediate impact. He was causing the two centre backs problems, he offers that. People thought it was out of the blue that we just threw him up there, we do a lot of work in training. We do some training in those positions.
“All last week we had done that because Wilson Waweru was out suspended. We were a bit tight up top, he made a massive impact when he came on.”
Jordan Adeyemo and Walsh’s goals were both sweet efforts which delighted Caulfield. “The pleasing thing, and the crowd see it, the opening goal Conor Kearns catches the cross,” Caulfield recalls.
“He throws it to McCormack and seven or eight passes later the ball is in the back of the net - a brilliant header by Jordan, a classy move. The second goal some brilliant one and two touch play, Dave Hurley releases Stephen Walsh.
“We all know Walshy, he is the real Galway United man, he came on, had a brilliant shot from about 20 yards into the bottom corner.
“Two fantastic goals, it was a really entertaining game. Leaving the stadium there was a buzz around the place after coming back from two down, but certainly the fans could see the excitement and the way the team had played in the second half.”
**Listen to the full interview with Galway United manager John Caulfield on this week’s ‘Cian on Sport’ podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
