Destiny, drama and Dingle heart: Geaney reflects on All-Ireland victory forged the hard way

BEST DAY: Dingle captain Paul Geaney and his wife Siún and their two children Christina, and Paidi, with the Andy Merrigan Cup, after the All-Ireland Club SFC final match. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Just as Ballymacelligott’s Aidan Breen felt there was a sense of destiny about their All-Ireland junior success, so too did Conor Geaney about Dingle’s senior glory.

How couldn’t you think that way given what Dingle endured to win county and Munster titles before that titanic clash against Ballyboden St Enda's in Cork earlier this month?

“I mean there's no two ways about it,” he smiled. “We had two extra-times in a row. We (Geaney) kicked the two-pointer to win it before (v St Finbarr’s). Yeah, look, it probably was, but that doesn't matter right now. I think it's just the best day of our lives.” 

Mark O’Connor said he almost laughed when Ruaidhrí Fallon kicked the two-pointer for St Brigid’s to force extra-time. Geaney could only describe it as fitting given Dingle’s white-knuckle rides in the previous wins over St Finbarr’s and Ballyboden.

“I was like, well, ‘That's just a taste of your own medicine there now.’ I suppose that was coming to us. But again we went down, someone told me just there we kicked three in the last four minutes to win it.

“So, look, thanks be to God some of our boys had the shooting boots on because a few of us didn't for sure! But look, that's how it's been.” 

For his cousin Mikey to score, Geaney felt it was appropriate considering how he has toiled for the club. “I think there's been a few fellas each day have stepped up and Mikey (Geaney) even mentioned that during the week.

“I was trying to stay away from it (media) but his face was popping up everywhere and I heard him mention that the rest of us need to step up and he actually did it himself. And he deserves it. He's been a stalwart for Dingle, for God knows how many years at this stage.” 

Much like manager Pádraig Corcoran, Geaney was effusive in his praise for how Tom O’Sullivan was able to string together those couple of points before Mikey Geaney’s winner.

“Unbelievable stuff. He's one of the best, best players in the country, best defenders in the country, and he plays as an almost attacking wing forward for us, and he's probably the best in the country at that, so I don't know what else to say about him.

“He puts in some amount of hours in the gym, training and keeping himself fit, kicking, like he deserves every bit of it. Jeez, he's unreal, yeah.”