Eddie "Heffo" Walsh.

A face that is well known to followers of hurling in the county is that of former Harriers stalwart Eddie “Heffo” Walsh.  In fact to call him a “former stalwart” is doing the man a disservice because he is still as much a died in the wool Harriers man as he was when he was playing and managing the team.

Heffo’s earliest memories of hurling were pucking a ball around on the narrow High Street as he was growing up. He remembers often have to run and hide behind “the broken wall” as the Guards would call to the street responding to a complaint from a neighbour.  The Christian Brothers and in particular brothers McHale and Gleeson were a big influence on him at an early stage and that was where he initially picked up the skills.  He joined the Harriers in around 1965 and says that Pat and “Dough” Murphy were two people he remembers as doing everything they could for him at that early stage.  His mother and uncle Jim Heffernan were also big influences on him at that time and it was actually from the Heffernan side of the family that he was to acquire his nickname by which he is still universally known throughout the county. 

Primary Schools hurling was very strong in those days and he remembers train journeys to big days out in Enniscorthy and New Ross against other CBS teams.  He went to school with George O’Connor, Tommy Hynes, Liam Morris, Kenny Walsh and others and would later go on to win several under age titles with some of these lads and a senior title in 1981 with others. 

One of his earliest thrills was when he captained the Wexford Minor Hurling team to Leinster Final victory in 1967 and went on to play in the All Ireland final where they lost to Cork.  He broke onto the Harriers Senior team in the same year and remembers being honoured to play in his first senior club final in 1968 alongside such greats as Ned Wheeler, Hopper McGrath, Willie Murphy, Con Dowdall, Sean O’Leary and Martin Buggy where they lost controversially to Buffers Alley.  He went on to win an Under 21 title with the club that year and the following year completed a three in a row of under 21 titles.

He broke onto the Wexford senior hurling panel around 1975 but was not on the panel for the victorious 1976 Leinster final campaign.  However, he regained his place on the panel and was a member of the team which retained the Leinster title with victory against Kilkenny in 1977.  He remembers one of the biggest disappointments of his career when he was dropped for the All Ireland final versus Cork but made an appearance in the game at a later stage.  Another of his fondest memories in the game was receiving an All Star nomination in 1978.  Meanwhile on the club front, it was a bleak period for the Harriers at senior level and he had to wait until 1979 to make his next senior final appearance since the 1968 defeat.  At that time the Harriers had a good sprinkling of county players in Heffo, Ned Buggy, Liam Bennett and Willie Murphy.  However, victory was to escape him again as Rathnure pipped them by the minimum margin in the second replay. 

 At that stage, he thought that a senior hurling medal was going to elude him but his greatest sporting and most cherished memory was winning the senior title in 1981 with victory over old rivals Buffers Alley.  He says the feeling was unbelievable and he would encourage every young hurler in the county who has this dream to keep playing and the dream may become a reality some day.  He went on to play and lose in two further finals and finally hung his boots up in the late eighties.  From there he became involved on the management side of the club and in his second spell in charge of the team, alongside Pat Murphy and Ned Buggy, led the team to three successive semi-final defeats in 1997, 98 and 99.  He remembers the heartbreak of getting so close, especially for what he viewed as a very dedicated bunch of players.

 Talking to Heffo, you get the impression that he is still as infatuated with the game as he was as an 18 year old.  His passion and love for the Faythe Harriers is so obvious and despite many offers from other senior clubs in the county to train their teams, says that he would never be able to train a team to beat his beloved Harriers.  Regarding today’s game, he says he always remembers the Rapparees as tough opponents and doesn’t view today’s game as being any different.  He wished “Sack” and the other selectors the best of luck at the start of the year and told them that if he could help them in any way, he would be more than willing.  Once the game is over on Sunday, win, lose or draw, Heffo will be the first into the dressing room.

To conclude, “my wish for this Harriers team, one of the finest bunch of players that anyone could wish to train, is that the dream that has eluded them becomes a reality today and that they win a senior hurling medal for which they will cherish for the rest of their lives.  I also want to wish the best of luck to “Sack”, Seamie, Justin, Liamo and all in the backroom team.  Make it a day to remember!!”