I was wrong in Cadogan incident, admits Galvin

Controversial Kerry star Paul Galvin has accepted his behaviour in the clash with Cork’s Eoin Cadogan

during this month’s Munster SFC semi-final replay win over Cork was out of order.

The footballer of the yearreceived an eight-week ban following the incident with photographs and tv replays showing him placing his index fingerinside the defender’s mouth.

Now Galvin has fessed up on the issue and told TV3’s Ireland AM: “if you do the crime you’ve got to do the time.”

The Finuge man also dismissed suggestions he considered quitting the game after his latest brush with GAA disciplinary chiefs. Galvin opted not to appeal the suspension proposed by the Central Competitions Control Committee which rules him out of the championship until mid-August – if Kerry progress that far.

He said: “It wasn’t a hard decision not to appeal. At the end of the day what I did you couldn’t condone. I was wrong to do what I did so I felt it best to take it (the suspension) on the chin. It will be difficult (to miss Sunday’s Munster SFC final). But you know if you do the crime you’ve got to do the time.”

Kerry bosses, and supporters, were furious at the manner in which the incident was highlighted by The Sunday Game. In particular county chairman Jerome Conway expressed annoyance other controversies in the game were not reviewed by TV analysts or by disciplinary bosses in the same fashion.

Galvin said: “There probably was a lack of balance in the way everything was portrayed, but no that’s not an issue for me really. I can only be responsible for myself, I was wrong to do what I did.”

When quizzed by presenter Aidan Cooney about suggestions the incident, and subsequent coverage, made him consider his footballing future, Galvin replied: “No, no, no … not a chance.”

Galvin will be an interested spectator when Kerry face Limerick in Sunday’s provincial final at Fitzgerald Stadium. And he is expecting a stern challenge from Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s men. He said: “I hope the boys beat Limerick because it’s a big challenge for us.”

Meanwhile, Galvin’s boss Jack O’Connor last night insisted the right decision was made not to appeal the ban: “I don’t think it did us any favours the last time. A couple years ago it dragged on. This time we want to try and move on. It’s history now and we have to drive on.”

* The full interview will be aired on TV3’s Ireland AM this morning at 8.15am.