How winning an All-Ireland may be all in the mind

Kieran Shannon tells a story which explains why some counties need sports psychologists more than others.

It’s the night before the All-Ireland football final of 2004. Neither Aidan O’Mahony nor Paul Galvin can get to sleep. Restless and anxious, the pair take the lift down to the hotel lobby. They meet Ger O’Keeffe, team selector and winner of five All-Ireland medals. Ger sees the two players and understands immediately. “Sure Maurice couldn’t sleep before the final in ‘97,” says O’Keeffe.

The best sports psychologist in the planet couldn’t have provided greater reassurance.