Sean Armstrong | Niall Bogue | Paddy Bradley | Kevin Cassidy
Colm Cooper | Shane Curran | Brian Dooher | Mattie Forde | Thomas Freeman
Raymond Gallagher | Paul Galvin | Oisin McConville | Ciaran McDonald
Stephen McDonnell | Michael Meehan | Conor Mortimer | Eoin Mulligan
Ross Munnelly | Stephen O'Neill | Tomas Ó Sé | Darragh Ó Sé
Colm Parkinson | Ciaran Whelan
Kerry sharp-shooter Paul Galvin’s short inter-county football career has been about as dramatic as they come. The 26-year-old made his Championship debut against Clare in 2004 and went onto win an All-Ireland medal with The Kingdom later that year. His exploits in that campaign earned him the honour of becoming the 1,000th ever All-Star.
2005 saw Paul pick up his second Munster Senior football medal, to add to the Kerry Senior hurling medal he won with Lixnaw. It was set to be another memorable year, but the All-Ireland final defeat to Tyrone was to shatter the Kerry two-in-a-row dream.
He returned to action this year against Offaly, scoring two points, and was a driving force as Kerry went on to win their 13th National Football League title in April. He is back playing the best football of his career and looking ahead, he is fully focused and would like nothing better than to regain the All-Ireland title with his beloved Kingdom.
What has been your greatest moment in sport?
Winning the All-Ireland with Kerry in 2004 was the best, there was great spirit in the team that year and we played some great football. Winning the All-Ireland Junior Club football title last year with Finuge in Portlaoise, when we beat Tyrone’s Stewartstown Harps, ranks up there too as do my two Kerry County Hurling Championships with Lixnaw in ’99 and ’05.
Who are the toughest teams you have faced?
Tyrone are definitely one of the toughest teams around in today’s game and will be hard to beat again this year. Dublin would probably have been our biggest rivals and are another team that will take a lot of beating.
Who was the toughest opponent you have ever faced?
I’d have to pick two. Declan Meehan from Galway and Philip Jordan from Tyrone, both are very tight markers and hard to get past.
How do you balance your job and football?
I’m fairly lucky because, as a teacher, the summer break allows me to concentrate fully on the Championship campaign.
Which players do you admire the most?
Darragh Ó Sé and Michael Donnellan
What club do you play for and who are your biggest rivals?
It’s a bit confusing but I play football with Finuge and hurling with Lixnaw. With Finuge, our biggest rivals would be Listowel Emmets and St Senans who we play in the North Kerry Championship. In the hurling, all the teams are tough and there is great rivalry between all of us in north Kerry.
Do you play any other sports?
I play soccer from time to time and even played with Cork City during the winter, but I really concentrate on the football and hurling.
Do you have any superstitions?
I always try to wear the same tracksuit and runners during a season. When a new season begins, I get a new set.
What are your hopes for the future?
It would be great to go on and win another All-Ireland and Munster title.
We will try to play to our best ability anyway and see how things go.
What advice would you give to young players?
I can’t stress the importance to keep believing that you can do it and not to let setbacks get you down. Everyday you go on the field it is a test but with belief you can do it and achieve your dreams.
© June 2006
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