Paul Galvin enjoying final journey with Ratoath

Ratoath manager Paul Galvin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Kerry great Paul Galvin says he's enjoying the journey with Meath SFC finalists Ratoath and not getting hung up about the destination.

The four-time All-Ireland SFC winner and ex-Wexford boss has guided the Brownstown outfit back to the Royal County final.

Ratoath have won three titles in the last six seasons though slipped up at the quarter-final stage in 2024 and turned to Galvin for 2025.

The former Footballer of the Year is on the verge of immediate success as Ratoath will face Summerhill in a repeat of the 2019, 2022 and 2023 finals.

But Kingdom icon Galvin, who was involved with Dublin SFC finalists Kilmacud Crokes last year, said it isn't necessarily reaching another final that excites him.

"I don't know, I'm looking forward to spending more time with the lads and growing with them," he said. "The growth part of it is what excites me. The journey part of it and the improvement of it is what we're after. I think that's the more exciting part of it."

Galvin replaced Lar Norton as Ratoath boss while former Mayo midfielder David Brady guided the club to its last county SFC success in 2022.

Finuge native Galvin said he was aware of the club as 'I watch a lot of football' and he was struck by the 'very supportive' and 'very competitive' people he immediately encountered.

As for the fact that it'll be a grudge match with all the trimmings against Summerhill, a genuine rival at this stage, Galvin shrugged.

"Sure everything is local really when it comes to county championships," he said.

Current Meath star Jack Flynn powered Ratoath to victory against Skryne in last weekend's semi-final, drilling three two-pointers and 0-7 in total.

But former Meath players Joey and Eamon Wallace both missed out with injuries.

"They've been injured, yeah," said Galvin of the speedy duo. "We've been pretty injury hit all year long really and we still have a number of them. But yeah, that's the story with the boys."

Another challenge for Galvin is the fact that he has several dual players who will compete in next Sunday's county hurling semi-final against Trim.

He felt the 11-point margin of last Saturday's football semi-final defeat of Skryne 'flattered' his team.

Just a point separated the teams with 14 minutes of the hour to go before Ratoath took off, outscoring Skryne by 0-11 to 0-1 down the stretch.

"It was a proper championship game," said Galvin. "It ebbed and flowed a bit. They (Skryne) definitely had control for a spell. We managed to take it back which is a positive for us. Look, we'll see. We're growing and we're improving. We're a work in progress in many ways. How far more we can go is the question."