Cullinane: Galvin could be six-shooter

DES CULLINANE, coach of the 1999 UCC Munster SFC winning side, for whom Paul Galvin starred at right half-back, believes the Finuge player could be a big success if shifted into defence for the All-Ireland champions.

Kerry management are considering moving last year’s Footballer of the Year from his familiar half-forward berth to fill the no. 6 position vacated by the departure of Mike McCarthy.

And Cullinane believes Galvin has the attributes to make a success of the position, just like he did 11 years ago during the third-level side’s run to provincial honours.

“Paul was absolutely phenomenal for us that year,” recalls Cullinane.

“It was no coincidence that he ended up winning the Munster club player of the year. Oisín McConville won the national award, so that was the type of company Paul was in. The fulcrum of our county and Munster success that year was our half-back line, with Damien Reidy, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Paul all very important players.

“He first came to our notice as a forward, either in the corner or on the wing with Freshers teams. He wasn’t outstanding at that level but we didn’t have an exceptional Freshers team.

“When we were going for the senior championship then, we tended to experiment. I remember Damien Reidy got injured for our first game against Bantry and there was a big gap there. So it was more by accident than design that we ended up putting Paul back there, yet at the same time he has played some football in defence for Finuge.

“It was a huge success for us. We decided we needed someone who could win breaks and he was absolutely phenomenal in that regard.

“But the thing about that UCC side was we had a very big panel, who were comfortable operating in a number of positions. Paul was just one of those. We had a very tough schedule, playing eight games in eight weeks before we won the Munster.

“In the matches against Ballincollig, Aghada and Doonbeg, Paul was in top-class form.”

Cullinane reckons it will not be a major adjustment now for Galvin to reinvent himself at inter-county senior level as a centre-back.

“What he exhibited for us back in 1999 is the same as now. He’s a very combative player and a fabulous distributor of the ball.

“I don’t think it’s ever too late to be changing your position at inter-county level. There might be a worry about his size as fielding isn’t his forte and he could be up against some very tall centre-forwards. You do need in certain situations to field the ball at centre-back but the way Kerry play that might not be a major issue.

“He is a hugely intelligent footballer so I don’t think it’s going to be a major problem for him changing position. As well when you look at him playing half-forward, he drops deep as well to get possession behind the half-back line. He is comfortable doing that which’d help him if he’s moved back.”