'I would say unlikely' - Kerry star Paul Galvin drops fresh retirement hint

KERRY STAR PAUL Galvin has admitted that he’s “unlikely” to feature for the Kingdom in 2016.

The former Footballer of the Year came out of retirement to feature for Kerry during the championship but hinted that work commitments could scupper any plans to don the green and gold again next year.

In a wide-ranging Newstalk interview last night, Galvin revealed how injury problems hampered his progress in 2015 but explained that he felt “really ready” after impressing against Kildare in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

But Galvin wasn’t used in the semi-final victory over Tyrone, as boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice was forced to change tack following an early black card issued to Marc Ó Sé, before he came off the bench in the final loss to Dublin.

Galvin, who recently turned 36, was asked whether he will return for Kerry next year.

“I don’t know, I don’t know. I’ll have to speak to Eamonn really. It would be unfair to get into stuff without speaking to the manager.

“I would say unlikely, from a work point of view to be quite honest. I have two (fashion) collections on the shelves next year, one in February and one in late July/August, and considering that, that is a priority. It’s important, so anyway…I’ll have a discussion with Eamonn, it’s the fair thing to do.”

Galvin explained that the genesis for his return was attending the 2014 All-Ireland final victory over Donegal, and feeling that “he could still do it.”

He hadn’t been present for a Kerry game all year before that, having announced his retirement.

“I went to the All-Ireland final and I felt I could still do it.”

And while Galvin said that it was difficult “in a sense” to watch Kerry lifting Sam Maguire without him, he could justify his previous decision to walk away in his own head.

“It was hard in a sense but it wasn’t hard from the point of view that I knew I had done a lot with the time away. I was able to justify the decision easily because I got this book (autobiography) out, I got a lot of stuff out through the book, I was able to progress the clothing because of the book. I made sure that I used my time and I did what I needed to do.”

And Galvin admitted that his 2015 return was “disappointing”, in hindsight.

“From Kerry’s point of view, very disappointing. From my point of view, quite disappointing. Didn’t work out the way I’d hoped for, didn’t play enough.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“I went in in March, had about four months of work done and felt in good nick. Got to the end of the League, a time I hated, between League and championship. I lose interest because you’re eight or ten weeks before a game, a lot of training.

“That training block I found hard, we went into quite heavy training and I ended up doing a lot of long-distance endurance running, 800m, 600m, 400m, and then into intense one-on-one, intense running. At this stage I’m not built for the long-distance endurance hauls.

“I tore a thigh muscle, took me out for six weeks. By the time I came back we were heading for Portugal on a training camp, back into really intensive work, I did maybe eight sessions in three days. On the last day I got a recurrence and knocked me up for ten days, that put me down the pecking order.

Dublin boss Jim Gavin commiserates with Paul Galvin after the All-Ireland final. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“I had an idea of what worked for me in terms of the fitness stuff, Santry had me on a programme that was working for me but it’s hard to adhere to that in a group situation. You have to fall in. After the Kildare game I was happy with where I was at, felt really ready, felt I got right at the pitch of things, was ticking boxes as to what I felt was important in that role for the team.

“I added to the selection headaches for Eamonn and the selectors and I think it was hard for them. That’s not to say he got a call wrong against Tyrone, that game was won and well won. I felt a bit of momentum at that point would have helped me along but you couldn’t question the calls Eamonn made against Tyrone.

“I put myself in the firing line, put my hand up and when you do that, you have to accept the consequences of it then. It was just something I felt I had to and wanted to do, I went for it and I felt I reached really good levels in training but that didn’t really transfer to the important days, and that’s the disappointment.

“Below in Killarney against Cork, I felt a good bit off it but I wasn’t worried. It was a good look at things. I went back training and against Kildare, I felt I was close to being at it but a little fraction off, my bearings and getting used to things. The injuries were a setback.”

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