As one chapter closes, another begins for Walter Walsh following retirement

Despite announcing his retirement from inter-county hurling with Kilkenny, life is not going to get any quieter for Walter Walsh.

Just a couple of weeks after he announced his decision to end his playing days with Kilkenny, his wife gave birth to twins as he became a father for the first time.

As one chapter in his life closes, another opens, with new challenges for the former All-Ireland winner.

"It is busy, we were thrown in at the deep end with twins. It is all going great, it is brilliant, Charlie and Kate, a boy and a girl, they are doing great. They're healthy, that is all you really want as a parent. Everything is going great.

"Vicki's family distantly have twins as well. It's mad all the things you've to get nowadays. It's exciting times. Two of everything is great."

While Walsh admitted he will miss his playing days with Kilkenny, he values the extra time he will have to be a father.

"“It is important, family is massively important to everyone really. It is nice to have a bit more time to be around and help I suppose. Twins is busy. I am really enjoying fatherhood, so far it has been brilliant. I am learning an awful lot, I didn’t know a whole lot about babies or newborns or anything like that.

"It is the first grandchildren on Vicki’s side, my sister has two children but they live in Malaysia, so my experience with newborn children has been very, very low. I am just learning, and it is extremely enjoyable. It is a challenge, but it is great.”

On the pitch, Walsh could not have made a bigger impact on is debut for Kilkenny.

In the 2012 All-Ireland final, the Kilkenny forward made his debut, where he scored 1-3 and announced himself on the biggest stage to help the Cats win the Liam McCarthy.

The 33-year-old went