By this stage Walsh's hurling skills had been noticed by the Cork senior selectors. Cork retained their provincial dominance in 1986 as the county captured a fifth Munster title in-a-row. It was Walsh's first Munster winners' medal in this grade. Following an unconvincing display by Cork against Antrim he later lined out in the All-Ireland final against Galway. The men from the west were the red-hot favourites against an ageing Cork team, however, on the day a different story unfolded. Four Cork goals, one from John Fenton, two from Tomás Mulcahy and one from Kevin Hennessy, stymied the Galway attack and helped 'the Rebels' to a 4–13 to 2–15 victory. It was Walsh's first All-Ireland winners' medal at senior level.