Eimear Ryan: Filling the void between playing and its empty aftermath

Just as punditry isn’t a replacement for playing, charisma on the pitch is different to charisma onscreen.

NEXT PHASE: Ex-Galway hurler Joe Canning is a natural TV pundit. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The management is informed. The county board statement is drafted. The Sportsfile photos have been carefully curated for the social media feed. You’re an inter-county player of many years, and the body is letting you know — has been signalling for some time, in fact — that it’s time to retire. You’re ready, and the body is ready.

But the mind?