Ryan’s positive approach to safety

When Paul Galvin mentioned the discomfort of being made to wear a gum shield in his first significant interview following retirement, it could easily have been interpreted as a primary reason in his decision-making.

“Nobody would notice if you weren’t wearing them but I couldn’t talk,” he said. “I couldn’t get my wind and I couldn’t talk to fellas so you’re having to take them out and then I was running around holding mine and the ball would come then and you’d throw it away and go for the ball.”

Diarmuid O’Sullivan had said something similar about the face-guarded helmets being made compulsory. “At 30 years of age, a man should be able to make up his own mind whether or not he should have to wear a helmet,” blasted the three-time All-Ireland winner, who never wore a hurling helmet.