Paul Conroy: ‘If Pádraic put a gun to my head in January, I probably wouldn’t be here’

There were concerns in Galway that 2024 Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy would call time on his inter-county career but the 36-year-old has returned and really showed his value against Monaghan

Paul Conroy was genuinely on the fence aboout whether he would return for Galway this year. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

This is what it is about. A cold, raw afternoon in Inniskeen, Paul Conroy, 36 years young, springing from the bench to swing over back-to-back two-pointers and steer Galway to victory. Then straight out with the subs afterwards for a few wind-lashed sprints.

There were fears out west that the 2024 Footballer of the Year might not feature this season, but it was confirmed last month that he had committed for another campaign. Conroy had come on in Galway’s previous two fixtures but Sunday against Monaghan was where he really showed his value. His kicking from outside the arc was immense. His calm on the ball was vintage Conroy.

All that said, there was no escaping the extra runs in the driving wind and rain of an exposed club ground.

“The conditions up here are tough again, but look it has to be done,” he said with a smile.

“The lads who are playing get 70 minutes, lads come on don’t get as much obviously and then there are lads who don’t get on at all. You need to make sure you aren’t missing out. It is tough going after a game, disappointed not coming on and then you have to go running after. It is actually way better to get it done.” 

It is not exactly a comeback story. Conroy was genuinely on the fence for weeks about whether he would return. Yet he came back in excellent shape.

“I was doing my own stuff anyway. Even if I wasn’t playing football, just for good habits and good for the head. I was doing it, running programmes I had from down the years. You can tip away. I was delayed coming back, so I have a bit to do, but it is good to be back.” 

Conroy on the arc with a breeze at his back is shark-in-the-water territory. That is an impact the midfielder could bring consistently.

In Division 1 this year, Galway have kicked 14 two-pointers in total. That is tied with Dublin, with only Armagh and Monaghan worse. The absence of Shane Walsh and Matthew Thompson goes some way towards explaining the tally, but the point is that Pádraic Joyce has a need for a long-range shooter. Conroy can be it.

“The wind was massive there today. Even the way they kicked theirs in the first half. The last two games, we were unfortunately with the wind in the first half. When it is a big wind, it is not as big an ask. You watch Kerry on Saturday night and lads are stroking them over. We probably won’t have that wind in the summer, but when it is there, you have to use it.”

He continued: “Teams are getting better at working two-pointers, even if there was no wind, they would still be going for them. Obviously, you need a bit more space and to settle more with no wind. But we are used to the wind in Galway and Pearse Stadium.” 

The St James' GAA clubman recently had his second child. It was part of the reason he was unable to commit for that spell. He was genuinely 50/50 about whether he would return.

“Look, I was. When you have kids at home, you are depending on other people. Training, collecting, picking up. Thankfully, my wife at home is fully back. You just have to make sure the energy is there and the drive is there. The last place you want to be is in a dressing room if you are not 100% committed. The compact season probably makes it a bit easier, too.” 

But as Sunday showed, it is still there. That competitive spark ultimately keeps him going.

“The drive. The want. You have to have that bite between your teeth. Pádraic obviously gave me a good bit of time. If he put a gun to my head in January, I probably wouldn’t be here today. That was it. I am glad I’m back.”