Robbie Brennan hails Kerry great Paul Galvin's impact at Kilmacud Crokes

INSTANT IMPACT: Robbie Brennan has hailed the impact of Kerry great Paul Galvin at Kilmacud Crokes. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Robbie Brennan has hailed the impact of Kerry great Paul Galvin at Kilmacud Crokes, insisting the benefits of his work are already clear to see.

The three-in-a-row Dublin and Leinster champions, who won the All-Ireland club title in 2023, brought in Finuge man Galvin at the start of the season.

Former Wexford manager and Kildare coach Galvin was a notable figure on Sunday as Crokes drew with Thomas Davis to finish top of Group 4 in the Dublin SFC, securing them a quarter-final clash with Ballyboden St Endas.

That'll be a repeat of last season's final and Crokes will need a significant improvement on Sunday's showing with boss Brennan saying they have 'a bit to go yet' to find their best form.

In an at times heated encounter at O'Toole Park, Galvin, who has been linked with a return to Kildare under new manager Brian Flanagan's reign, cut a considered figure as he stood next to the dugout and took in the action after leading a section of the warm up.

"He's got two or three really specific things he goes after and we can actively see it in our games and see it in our numbers and what we do," said Brennan. "It's been brilliant to get him."

Galvin worked as Kildare's skills coach for a period under Glenn Ryan but Brennan said he holds full coaching privileges at Crokes.

"He's got certain things he goes after and he's been driving those standards with the lads and our numbers would show that that's went up since he's come in so it's a big plus to have him."

Crokes extended their remarkable record in Dublin SFC group stage games by drawing with Thomas Davis. Crokes still haven't been beaten in a group game since the format was introduced in 2018, a 21-game streak of 20 wins and Sunday's draw.

"It's something we're proud of and it's probably something that we reference now because we're so far into that journey," said Brennan. "We were trying to decide would we push it there at the end to try to win it or hold off and try to get the point. We knew the point was enough anyway."

Galvin isn't the only high profile Kerry man in the Crokes setup this year. Na Gaeil's Devon Burns, the Munster U-20 Footballer of the Year in 2022, played his second championship game for Crokes yesterday, pulling off two important saves to deny goals in the first-half.

Sligo full-forward Paddy O'Connor also lined out, making his third championship appearance for his adopted club, though Galway star Shane Walsh was absent again.

It's understood that ex-All-Star Walsh is still recovering from the ankle and hamstring injuries which affected him in the All-Ireland series with Galway.

Asked if Walsh will be back for the 'Boden quarter-final, Brennan said: "Hopefully so."

Dunboyne resident Brennan, who was briefly part of the Meath U-20 management in 2021, is the current favourite to replace Colm O'Rourke as the Royal County's senior manager.

Brennan is understood to be interested in the position but said he has had no contact with the Meath county board who set last Wednesday as their deadline for clubs to nominate a successor.

Brennan and current Roscommon coach Lar Wall, who guided Kells side Gaeil Colmcille for seven seasons, were nominated though the selection committee have drawn up their own list of potential candidates and are working through that.

"We have drawn up a list who we think will be possible candidates and we'll be interviewing everybody that we deem fit (for interview) in the next week or so," Meath GAA chairman Jason Plunkett told LMFM.

It's understood that Cathal O Bric, who guided Meath's minors to All-Ireland success in 2021 and this season's U-20s to the Leinster title, is also being considered by the selection committee.