Craig Walsh thought his SSE Airtricity League days were done and dusted. The former Shelbourne man was suspended for one year due to an anti-doping violation and he feared it would cost him his chance to play at the highest level. But after a starri
Craig Walsh thought his SSE Airtricity League days were done and dusted. The former Shelbourne man was suspended for one year due to an anti-doping violation and he feared it would cost him his chance to play at the highest level.
But after a starring role for Crumlin United this season, Martin Russell persuaded the midfielder to join him at Bray Wanderers and Walsh was thrown in at the deep end, playing the full 90 minutes against Waterford after just two training sessions with the Seagulls.
Walsh wasn't daunted against the Blues nor did he feel out of place and the 26-year old's interest in the League never waned throughout his absence from it.
"It was tough. I thought I did okay personally. I've been playing with Crumlin recently and the Leinster Senior League is not a bad standard - it wouldn't be far off the First Division maybe. But I said to myself going out on Friday that I had to do the simple things and not over-complicate it and just work hard. I think I did that. I think I settled in well and didn't find the pace too much.
"I've been following the League since I've been out of it. I'm from Inchicore so a lot of my mates are Pat's fans and I'd follow the league a lot and I would follow Bray because I'd know a couple of the lads here already."
The Dubliner knows that the Co. Wicklow club face a battle to stay in the top flight and he'll be doing all that he can to help maintain their status - including hitting the gym whilst his new team-mates are busy sunning themselves.
"Hopefully we can do well in the second half of the season. There'll be a couple coming back from injury and there's a bit of bite about training and lads are willing to work hard for each other and if you can get that, you can get a couple of wins and see where it takes us.
"The lads are going on a break now but I'll be knuckling down and working hard while the lads are away and I'll make sure I'll come in next week ready to go for the next game. I've played a full season and had two weeks off prior to this. I played for the Irish amateurs against the England 'C' team so that probably did me the world of good. I don't think I've much to do. I might work on my finishing after Friday! But it's a good start to my career with Bray."
Bray Wanderers will be Walsh's fifth League club. It is an opportunity to prove himself again but it's an opportunity that he thought may never arise again.
"I thought I was done two years ago. I thought I'd never get a chance again and then I played with my local team Inchicore Athletic who helped me out a lot. Crumlin signed me then and I got a hunger for the League of Ireland again because I was playing against lads that had played in the league and I was doing well against them - I got 20 odd goals this season for Crumlin.
"I knew it'd come around again if I wanted. I knuckled down and worked hard and put in the hard yards and here I am now with my second chance and I'm going to take it."
