Paul Galvin picks his battles and former Offaly star tackles armed raiders

A more mature Paul Galvin is more selective in his battles on the pitch while former GAA star tackles armed raider in Offaly.

By Declan Whooley

A mature Galvin reflects on life…and feeling like he was in a car crash after shouldering Ciaran Whean

Unlike most folk in Kerry, Paul Galvin doesn’t seem as immersed in all things football and an interview in the Irish Independent gives an insight into his thoughts on a decade in the Kerry jersey, his future plans outside of football and learning to pick and choose his battles more carefully.

Ten years have passed since Galvin first donned the green and gold jersey for the senior side, and he has been one of the most talented and controversial figures in that period.

After taking a knock in a collision with a Tipperary player in Sunday’s comprehensive defeat of the Premier County, the Finuge man says that picking his battles on the pitch has been a steep learning curve.

A sweet victory over the Dubs in 2004, but a painful collision

No one could doubt his physical and combative approach on the pitch, but even he concedes some of the legitimate hits he attempted during his time have left him a little dazed. He admitted to feeling like he had been in a car crash after coming off second best to Ciaran Whelan in the 2004 All-Ireland quarter-final victory, "I still wasn't right by the following Thursday", while Kevin Cassidy was another opponent to test his mettle.

“I remember above in Ballyshannon (in a league game) and I just hit Cassidy. The next thing I was on the ground looking around wondering what had hit me.”

While he dismissed ideas of retirement this summer, his plans after football are taking shape after giving up a teaching career for ventures online and also in fashion, with a new grooming product set to be launched next month.

“I found teaching, you know, the routine of it, like I wouldn't be great with routine. I wanted to just express my interests a little bit more,” he added.

For now his priorities lie with Kerry and that will please the Kingdom faithful no end. And thankfully for him, Whelan and Cassidy are no longer part of the inter-county scene.

GAA star shows he is Offaly helpful as he tackles armed raider

With the greatest respect to Offaly footballers, in recent years they have spent more time tackling rather than attacking, which served a Gala store in Geashill, Co. Offaly very well indeed yesterday.

Former dual star Neville Coughlan, who retired from county football in 2009, noticed something suspicious at the Gala store in question yesterday evening, with two males forcing two women in the store to line on the floor while they took what cash they could.

After shouting for help, Coughlan quickly made a beeline for the would-be robbers, and used all the skills honed in the Defence Forces, not to mind on the GAA pitch to thwart the robbery.

Up against the Dubs in 2009

Coughlan gave chase to one of the armed men, pinned him to the ground before a nearby driver assisted him, with “notes flowing a little bit around the streets”.

“We rolled him over enough so I could squeeze my hand in and grabbed the knife and threw it down the road,” he told The Irish Independent.

He said that his Defence Forces training primarily kicked in and while the other male made off, he was soon arrested and both men held in Tullamore garda station.

Always game for the battle during his Offaly days, he was the hero of the hour yesterday and is rightly receiving plaudits for his valiant effort.

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