A CHANGE in mentality is required if Down is to produce the kind of players who can improve the county’s ailing fortunes at underage level, according to Michael Walsh.
Having been part of the Down minor team that won an All-Ireland title in 1999, the Mayobridge man knows what effect such success can have, with several players from that team progressing to make a name for themselves with the senior side.
Walsh has been named as part of Conor Deegan’s Down U21 backroom team alongside Paddy Hardy and Bernie Ruane, and he believes there is a need to wipe the slate clean after some barren years at underage level.
“Down hasn’t been successful at minor or U21 level in recent years, so it’s about trying to change that. When you’re not winning, players develop a mentality that needs to be changed,” said Walsh.
“Even if we can make them more competitive and change the whole mentality, get them on the right physical route, doing the right things. The ultimate goal is to try and produce better senior footballers.
“Part of our role is to try and be competitive and try and win something at U21, but ultimately it’s about developing the boys better physically and mentally, and leaving them in a better position to move on to the seniors.”
Several senior players have opted not to make themselves available for Down in recent years, and there is understandable concern that apathy could filter downwards.
Considering injury brought a premature end to his playing days at just 28, Walsh knows what it is like to have that choice taken away.
Restoring pride in the red and black jersey is one objective but, from a practical point of view, Walsh believes that Down are finally starting to move in the right direction in terms of nurturing the emerging talent base within the county.
He said: “We are a wee bit behind some counties with regards working on development, but they’re addressing that now.
“They’ve got an academy set up and some good men involved in that who are taking care of the academy players and making sure they’re doing the right things.
“Down will only benefit from that. You might not see it in the next year or two, but you will in five, six, seven years. It’s a long-term development model.”
And having managed Mayobridge for three years before leaving the post last year, Walsh believes there are plenty of players coming through who can help make Down competitive once again.
“Through being involved at senior level in the last four years, you get to know who are the young, up-and-coming players,” he said.
“I have a lot of names in my head. I’m looking forward to it.”
Walsh’s was one of several names linked to the senior post before the appointments of Jim McCorry and Eamonn Burns in 2014 and 2015 respectively, but he claims those links came as a major surprise to him.
He added: “There was nothing in that at all.
“I did not put my name forward, nobody approached me. I don’t know how my name came up. It was just paper talk.
“I’ve got into coaching because I retired from football early, I enjoy the coaching end of it. I started without a plan and this is where it has led me so far – is there something beyond this in terms of the county seniors? I don’t know.
“I’ll just concentrate on the job we have now and try and do it as best we can and see where we go.”
