My mother was my rock

Of all footballers looking to catch a break, Paul Geaney’s paw is raised the highest. Heaven knows he’s due one.

But for injury, he wouldn’t have had to wait as long as tomorrow for his first Championship start. Yet that it is only telling part of a story about the Dingle man who lost his mother Christina earlier this year to cancer.

Geaney, 23, took solace from the fact she managed to see her son captain UCC to a Sigerson Cup title. He had been named in the Kerry team to face Mayo on March 2 but pulled out as her health had deteriorated. She passed away the following day.