'It was just my time to go': Kilkenny's Grace Walsh on retirement:
Michael Bolton
Former Kilkenny camogie star Grace Walsh says she is happy with her decision to retire from inter-county camogie.
After winning three All-Ireland titles, Walsh made the decision after last season to call it a day with the Cats.
With camogie being such a huge part of her life, it was not an easy decision to make, but one that Walsh felt was best for her.
"Even though I'm really content with my decision, I still find it hard to actually talk about it, as it was such a huge part of my life for so long.
"Since I was in secondary school, I was on the Kilkenny team. I didn't really know life without it.
"I had decided before I went back to play with Kilkenny last year that it was going to be my last year, whatever way it finished up. I felt it in my body, and I felt it in my mind — it was time to step away, really."
With work commitments involving travelling to and from Dublin, and the toll this was taking on her body, Walsh felt it was the right time to step away.
"Travelling from Dublin, I found it kind of hard at the end, and I felt like my body felt it on the pitch.
"Even though you are doing lots of fitness training, my body felt tired a lot of the time. So it was either stay in Dublin and retire, or move home and keep going.
"My heart was not 100 per cent in it anymore, and I don't like to do things if I am not 100 per cent committed to it."
The Walsh family have given a huge amount to Kilkenny hurling, with cousin Miriam also stepping away from the inter-county scene, and Tommy becoming an analyst after a hugely successful career.
For the first time, Grace can watch Kilkenny as a fan, having kept herself busy since stepping away, including spending some time in Australia.
"Since I've come home, I've started a new job. I feel like life has been pretty busy. Somebody said to me that they think I'm busier now since I've retired, compared to before I retired. I think I've settled in.
"It is nice to be a supporter, to watch the girls play, to be honest. I'm liking that side of things. It was just my time to go, and I'm very content with my decision."