Kobe of the Kingdom: the genius of Dingle's Paul Geaney

It has taken Dingle's remarkable run to the All-Ireland final for Paul Geaney, at 35 years of age, to be properly recognised outside and even within Kerry for the remarkable player and leader he is.

Dingle GAA club captain Paul Geaney and his father Paul Snr pictured with the Kerry and Munster Cups ahead of the All-Ireland final against St Brigid's. Pic: Don MacMonagle

Like most things he turns his hand to, when Paul Geaney was asked a few years ago to contribute to a book comprised of tips from multiple inter-county hurlers and footballers for aspiring players, he gave it considerable thought and time, likening the development of a budding player and the promise of them “producing the goods in Croke Park” to the planting of vegetables.

“You must choose the right location with plenty of sun, ample space, good soil, irrigation and the right sort of vegetable for the right time of year,” he’d write in Seán O’Sullivan’s The Players’ Advice. “You must plough the soil, plant the seeds, maintain the crop and then wait a substantial amount of time to reap the rewards. Even when the vegetables have grown to harvest, the job is still only half done. They must then be picked and sorted for market.”