‘A real legend of Galway football’ – Paul Conroy’s enduring class
Paul Conroy of Galway with supporters after the All-Ireland SFC victory over Derry at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
As Galway were attacking into Derry’s set defence just before half-time last weekend, their management team sprung into action and made a call. Several players looked to the sideline and started to move the pieces on the board.
Eventually, Paul Conroy gained possession outside of the 45, looked up and tried to pick a pass to Matthew Tierney. The midfielder is a magnificent kicker while Tierney is a left-footed monster capable of claiming the mark and converting it. He never got the chance as the pass was just overcooked.
There were a couple of interesting things at play here. Firstly, that was the only turnover of Conroy’s 44 possessions. He kicked ten passes, including a free. He’d four shots for three points and another assist.
The second element is how Galway use him. Conroy is 35 this Wednesday. His side clearly identified the space available in Derry’s arch defence and tried to exploit it. It hinted at an approach that suits the players at their disposal.
“People in Galway probably don't realise the type of player he is actually,” said Pádraic Joyce post-match.
“I was still playing in his debut season. He has been really sharp the last couple of weeks in training. We knew the way he played the (training) game here last week, 15 v 15, that he’d a couple of scores in him and he kicked three from play. He was brilliant.
“That's him. He's in phenomenal shape. Keeps himself great. A real legend of Galway football.”
Due to their well-publicised injury issues, the first time Galway could run an internal 15 vs 15 was before the Connacht final. As the season progressed, they got bodies back and moved across to Pearse Stadium. Early in the year they use the facility in Loughgeorge as it has floodlights.
Joyce would later reference the benefit of playing on their own patch. “We know the dimensions of the pitch inside out.” Their familiarity with the environment was evident in their finishing, 73% conversion vs Derry’s 56%.
Galway play a certain way that fits with Conroy’s skillset. He was their leading long kickout target last season. In the second half last Saturday, he tracked Conor Glass to the edge of the square and broke a long delivery. Of his three points, two were with the right and one was his left.
“The way we were set up, a lot of the time it was almost like basketball for a while,” he said after the Man of the Match performance. “They go back, we go back, they go back, we go back. Obviously, it's good to chip in with a couple of scores. It's important. We had a good range of scorers today.”
Another critical factor was the sending off of Gareth McKinless.
“I think maybe because of the way Derry set up because they lost a man, they couldn't press too high. Even this time last year, Tyrone were down to 13 men for some of the game.”
Galway’s discipline under Joyce has been a standout feature. In championship, the only red card they have received was Sean Kelly’s in the 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh after a contentious melee. That card was later rescinded, while substitute Cathal Sweeney was handed a one-match ban.
It was the fourth time an opponent saw red against them in championship. Greg McCabe, Nugent (rescinded), Frank Burns and McKinless.
As for Conroy, he is still striving for more. In 2007, he captained Galway to a minor All-Ireland against Derry. 17 years on he competed against Chrissy McKaigue once again.
“It's funny seeing that. We look a bit different now I'd say than we did back then. He's a phenomenal player, a phenomenal warrior in fairness to him,” said Conroy.
“I think I was marking him that day as well. We were very lucky to get over the line. It's great to see a couple of lads of your own age still playing.”
Creative players like Conroy are good for the game. He is keen to stress the game has been good to him as well. That is what keeps him going.
“Dedication and looking after yourself, and the love for it as well. If I wasn't enjoying it, I wouldn't come back every year. There's so much time every week going into it. There's a lot of ups, a lot of downs. At the minute, it's enjoyable. The last couple of years have been enjoyable.
“We've probably been better than had been the couple of years before that. Enjoying it and the dedication, I'm playing football since I was five or six in Renmore and in St. James' now and in with Galway since I was 18 or 19 under Liam Sammon. It's enjoyable and if I'm enjoying it, I'm going to keep at it if I'm able for it.”
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