Galvin has keen edge
Both brilliant, single-minded players, totally committed and inspirational, who play on the edge and, as a consequence, have had some high-profile skirmishes with authority. Nevertheless, if any manager in Gaelic football had the opportunity of adding one player to his side, that man would be probably be Paul Galvin.
The man who became the 1000th All-Star in 2007 and Footballer of the Year in 2009 is a player who would be guaranteed to add hugely to any team.
In 2008, Galvin missed most of the season due to suspension and this year he is to serve another eight-week ban ruling him out of the game until an All-Ireland semi-final – if Kerry progress that far.
His value to the Kingdom is immense. All commentators agree that his arrival on the field, in both games against Cork, turned the game in Kerry’s favour – an indication, if needed, to prove his undoubted ability and worth to the green and gold.
At least this year there is no long drawn out investigation and no appeal which takes it off the media agenda.
Galvin, as Jerome Conway, the Kerry chairman has said, decided “to take his punishment like a man”.
Nevertheless, Kerry expressed their displeasure at both the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) and The Sunday Game, which highlighted the issue.
There is a feeling in Kerry that Galvin is a marked man and is watched by the powers that be like a hawk. Kerry have threatened retribution by not cooperating with RTÉ interviews and not cooperating with Anthony Tohill in the International Rules Series.
While understanding the frustration, I am not sure how wise such a course of action is.
Firstly, the CCCC were the official body who dealt with the disciplinary procedure, not The Sunday Game. There is a feeling that they pay too much attention to The Sunday Game and are influenced too greatly by it. The CCCC denies that but many people feel that incidents not highlighted on television are ignored. There seems to be evidence to support this theory and the CCCC will need to show more independence in this regard if people are to be convinced of their independent thinking. Indeed, Colm O’Rourke said as much when commenting on the Galvin incident, saying the referee hadn’t taken any action and that should be the end of it.
But what did The Sunday Game boys do then? The exact opposite. They said Galvin couldn’t be considered for man of the match because of the clash with Eoin Cadogan. In other words they weren’t accepting the referee’s decision themselves.
I am not condoning the clash that led to the suspension but merely pointing out some inconsistencies as I see them by both The Sunday Game and the CCCC. And I don’t believe Kerry should either boycott The Sunday Game or the International Rules.
The “threat” of a boycott is more than sufficient at this stage. Firstly, the panellists on The Sunday Game are all fiercely-committed GAA people who have given an awful lot to the game. The show is compulsive viewing for all GAA fans, and while it can’t please everyone, by and large the commentary is balanced, if at times provocative, but that is part of modern television.
Secondly, I wouldn’t like to see Kerry boycotting the International Rules because Anthony Tohill was so strong in his condemnation of Galvin’s actions. Only a handful of players get to represent their country and it should be up to each player to make himself available or not. I wouldn’t like to see a Kerry boycott as, ultimately, it is the Ireland team that will suffer. We should distinguish between Tohill’s role as a panellist on The Sunday Game and as manager of the International Rules teams.
Be that as it may, Paul Galvin is now out until August but I have a feeling that the CCCC won’t have much engagement with him in the future.
He is taking his punishment like a man, blaming nobody, only saying he is disappointed with himself and hopes to get his place back on the Kerry team.
He won’t have to worry about the latter. Like Roy Keane he would be the first name down on any manager’s team list.
