The green and gold standard

It’s Championship game No 76 for Colm Cooper tomorrow, 32 of them on Jones’ Road. Kerry may be in transition, but the Gooch understands that shouldn’t alter Kingdom expectations of success against their old rivals in front of an 82,000 sellout at headquarters

THREE weeks ago, Colm Cooper stood in the stillness of Fitzgerald Stadium and had an epiphany. Taking a brief rest from the rigours of training, it dawned on him. This is me, he thought. This is where I am most content. This is where I am among my best friends. Across Lewis Road are the rest of my close buddies. This is what I am.

That realisation wasn’t always obvious. It wasn’t so much that football was a chore as much as he didn’t fully appreciate how much he loved the game. It’s been as good to him as he has to it.