Paul Galvin has ‘nothing really to lose’ on his Kerry return

Opinion remains somewhat divided on the sense and reasoning behind Paul Galvin’s decision to come out of retirement, and that a bit like the Elvis ’68 Comeback Special, it could go either way.

What is certain is he’s been welcomed back as if he’d never left – current Kerry forward Stephen O’Brien jesting that Galvin was being slagged off, as usual, on his return to training on Tuesday night.

Former Kerry team-mate Darragh Ó Sé, speaking to this newspaper, said he was “very open minded about how it will all work out”, which would appear to be the general consensus.

Former opponent and Limerick midfielder John Galvin, who retired earlier this year after 15 years with his county, and at 34 is actually a year younger, reckons the 2009 footballer of the year still has something to offer.

“My reading of it is that Paul just wasn’t happy this time last year, didn’t quite have the heart for it, for whatever reason,” says Galvin. “After a year off maybe that has changed, and he’s ready to give it one more go.

“There’s no doubt he still has serious ability, and if the hunger is there, I think he definitely has a lot to offer. His ability to win primary possession is well known, and I still think he can do that. And I’m sure Paul has done a lot of work, physically, during the time he was away. He may not get a 70-minute game, but is definitely good for 50-55 minutes, whether that means starting, or coming on.”

After 15 years playing with Limerick, Galvin felt he had extended his career as long as possible, especially after enduring two torn cruciate ligaments: he also feels circumstances with his older Kerry counterpart are a little different.

‘Hardest thing’

“I’m very busy at work, and building a house, although I do know come May or June, it probably will hit me more. But I would be changing my mind, no. But the hardest thing for Paul now is not to wonder should he have stayed gone, if those thoughts do come. But I really hope it does work out for me, because people will always be critical of a player who tries to come back, if it doesn’t go well.”

For Ger Hartmann, the Limerick-based physical therapist, who nine years ago convinced Séamus Moynihan to retire and made him swear he’d never change his mind, there is little doubt Galvin has made the right decision to come out of retirement.

“The first question I would ask about Paul Galvin is not so much why he came back, but why he left in the first place,” says Hartmann, who has treated Galvin and several other Kerry footballers in recent years.

“At the time, there was a lot of other pressure in his life, trying to establish a career, living in Dublin, in a relationship, and all that. So with Paul, he didn’t leave the game for reasons within the game, but from reasons outside of it. Sometimes that happens, and so there will always be some regret, or urge to get back in there.

“It was completely different with Séamus Moynihan. He was after breaking down completely, with a serious back injury, and hip injury, and spent a great deal of time rebuilding his strength, just so he could play the game again. He sat out the entire league, with a view to getting one more summer with Kerry, in 2006, before and going out at the very top. After that, there was always the risk he would break down again, if he went on for another year.

“With Paul, his physical shape is still as good as it’s ever been. He’s always been very diligent in looking after himself, in terms of nutrition, strength and conditioning, all of that. He’d never put on an extra pound. Éamonn Fitzmaurice is also a very smart manager, very cute, and won’t use Paul unless he has a reason to.

‘Attractive prospect’

“There’s no doubt as well that Kerry are a far more attractive prospect compared to this time last year, and that must have had a bearing as well. Paul had lots of success over the years, but also some disappointments, and narrow defeats, and he must feel he has more in him, and is still being driven by some of those defeats. In some ways he’s nothing really to lose. If he makes it great, if he doesn’t then he still has his four All-Irelands.”