Student becomes the master - Walsh and former pupils eyeing Croke Park redemption in club junior hurling final

A familiar venue with different vibes for Walter Walsh on Saturday.

The towering forward will again take to the field for a Kilkenny side in Croke Park, but this time for Tullogher-Rosbercon in their All-Ireland club junior hurling championship final against St Catherine's of Cork.

Expect a considerably smaller crowd than the full house that witnessed his most recent visit last July. Though in the club’s first trip to Jones’ Road since losing the junior club decider to Dripsey (also Cork) in 2009, a shot at redemption is all the motivation that Walsh needs.

"When the ball gets thrown in, you don't think of the crowd or the stadium you're playing in," he tells RTÉ Sport. "It comes down to the ball and your will to win.

"It's been a long 15 years. We were competitive up intermediate for a number of years and we dropped back down junior three or four years ago. Just lucky to get out of junior into the intermediate grade and relishing the challenge Saturday after 15 years.

"We obviously lost that day so it's something we'll be trying to make right this time. I was very young. I think they were the better team on the day. I was corner-forward that day myself and didn't have my best game ever. It was a massive occasion that time but it's all about winning that game when you're there.

"When I look back now you might appreciate it that bit more, these finals don't come around too often and I think mentally you'd be in a better place to prepare for it. It does hit home a bit more as you get a bit older.

"I was after winning a minor All-Ireland with Kilkenny and then a county and Leinster final with Tullogher in 2008 and I thought 'this hurling thing is great, you win all the time!’. I found out the next year it's not like that because