PAUL GALVIN IS back in training with Kerry and ready to don the green and gold of the Kingdom again.
Most county sides have had to cope with losing influential players since the end of last season, however, Kerry have gained the services of Galvin, Colm Cooper and Tommy Walsh.
This all makes for a mouthwatering prospect with some of the game’s best players thrown together in one forward line. So where’s the Finuge man going to line out?
Wing forward
Perhaps the most viable option for Galvin to push his way back into the side. He operated there with distinction for years and is the epitome of the modern day wing forward; extremely fit, strong and a wonderful playmaker.
There would be question marks regarding his age, he is 35 now, and whether or not he would be capable of tracking a roaming wing back such as Jack Mc Caffrey or Lee Keegan throughout a game.
He also has serious competition for the no 10 jersey as, assuming all of Kieran Donaghy, James O’Donoghue, Tommy Walsh and ‘Gooch’ start, it leaves just two positions left vacant in a very attack minded forward line. Paul Geaney, Donnacha Walsh, Johnny Buckley, Bryan Sheehan and Stephen O’Brien are his competition for that berth.
Centre back
Prior to his retirement, rumours were aplenty that Galvin would be given a chance at centre back for his county. No player has really commanded the no 6 jersey in the Kingdom since Seamus Moynihan for more than a season and it was thought that the Finuge club man could prove to be a useful stop-gap.
He has played there for his club and has all the physical attributes of a centre back, but there would be serious questions marks over his defensive nous and his ability to hold that position. It would also be a huge ask to dis-lodge All Star defender Peter Crowley from that position after him leading Kerry so well from there last season.
Roaming corner forward
An outside chance of Galvin being placed here. The trend among teams nowadays that aren’t playing a blanket defence is to leave just two players in the inside forward line. Galvin is very well suited to playing the role of the ‘third midfielder’. Kerry operated with just Kieran Donaghy and James O’Donoghue in the full forward line for the final two games last year, leaving Paul Geaney to float around. A similar set up this year is expected and Galvin may find himself donning the no.13 jersey for the first time in his Kerry career.
Impact sub
The most likely situation that Galvin could find himself in. He spent a lot of his final season watching on from the bench and may have to settle for that role again. Having a player of the calibre and experience of the former footballer of the year to come off the bench when a game is in the balance is always a huge bonus to a team. Whether or not a player as competitive as Galvin could live with not being in the starting side is yet to be seen, but what a lift it would give his side when he comes on.