Silke thinks Galway's Paul Conroy should 'go out at the top'

Galway manager Padraic Joyce and Paul Conroy after the game. Picture: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

If Paul Conroy finds himself on the fence over the coming months about whether to go again with Galway for season No.17 in 2025, Ray Silke’s advice would be to “go out at the top”.

35-year-old Conroy capped an immense summer with an immense final display, kicking three points from play and winning kick-outs on either side. There was, however, no Celtic cross to go along with a potentially player-of-the-year campaign.

“The selfish supporter attitude would be, yeah, he should stay, and wouldn't it be fantastic. But you have to be mindful of the fact that he is turning 36 next championship. He has a young son. Time moves on,” remarked Galway’s 1998 All-Ireland winning captain Silke.

“Does he want to stay? That will be the question, really. It would be great if Conroy continued, he could have a role.

“But if he was my brother or my son, I would probably be saying to him, go out at the top, an All-Ireland final where you've scored three points from play from midfield, having a huge season for Galway, and collecting an All-Star. I think it is as good as it is going to get. My temptation would be to go, if I was advising him.

“But if he loves his ball, and he can do it, and the family support is there to do it again, it is a short enough season really if he can start in January.” 

Turning to the sideline and whether there might be movement there too, Silke said that if his old Galway teammate continues for a sixth year on the sideline, there needs to be a freshening up of backroom personnel.

“Knowing Pádraic, he would be very disappointed to end in the manner in which it has ended. If he wants to stay, he should be allowed to stay.

“I do think he could maybe freshen things up. If you look at Kieran McGeeney, he brought in Conleith Gilligan and Kieran Donaghy. Pádraic has had the same people now for five years. Cian O'Neill has done a lot of good work. But if Pádraic was staying, maybe a few new voices would probably be a good thing.” 

Reflecting on the county’s 15th All-Ireland final defeat, there was no getting away from the fact, said Silke, that this was “one that got away”.

“I thought if Finnerty, Walsh, and Comer showed up that we would beat Armagh. But Finnerty didn't get a chance to show up, Damien didn't get on the ball at all, and Shane had a very poor game by his standards.

“The negatives are that Seán Kelly's injury doesn't seem to be any further on. It has been going on for over 12 months now. Shane doesn't seem to be at it like he was two years ago, and Damien doesn't look fully injury free either, to be honest. He didn't score against Dublin, Donegal, or Sunday.

“On the day we didn't perform. I think they'd acknowledge themselves that they didn't play well enough to win the All-Ireland. Had one or two more showed up and had an 8/10 performance, they probably would be All-Ireland champions. Well done to Armagh. It is fantastic for that county. McGeeney stuck at it and persevered.”