Paul Geaney admits he ‘fell out of love' with football but is now enjoying Kerry revival

The Irish Sun

17 hours ago

PAUL GEANEY is back in the honeymoon period with Kerry — after getting over a rocky patch.
Gaelic football was the Dingle man's first love and he set his heart on playing for
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Kerry footballer Paul Geaney poses for a portrait at the national launch of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Series at the Croke Park
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Geaney admitted that he fell out of love with football in the past - but admits he's loving Kerry's resurgence
And the feeling was mutual, with Geaney enjoying his first date with the SFC back in 2013 and sealing the deal with Sam Maguire the following year.
But after coasting along for a time, that feeling of bliss deserted him.
By 2018, the relationship had hit rock bottom when Geaney started thinking about a separation from the cause.
Kerry's Championship suffered a shock break-up during the Super 8s — when defeat to Galway and a draw with Monaghan had them packing their bags.
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The hitman was about to turn 28, in November, and felt time might be up.
But after some soul searching, they had another go at it, the love was rekindled, and a second Celtic Cross arrived in 2022.
Now 34, Geaney wants the marriage to continue for as long as possible.
When asked by SunSport if he fell out of love with football, he said: 'I did, yeah. About 2018, 2019. I found it hard to get motivated.
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'In the summer of 2018, It actually reflected in my football. We lost to Galway in the first round of the Super 8s and then drew in Clones with Monaghan.
'We had Kildare at home but the thing was out of our hands at that point.
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"And we won, but Galway happened to lose to Monaghan at home, so we got knocked out, which was unfortunate because I felt that I kind of turned a corner.
"But then in the off-season, I probably felt I might pack it in. I wasn't playing as good, or I wasn't invested. I wasn't giving everything to the club either.
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'I might have been just sick of it, looking back, but I'm probably glad I stuck at it for a while because if I did step out.
"I don't know if I would have had it to come back and I just kind of fought through that patch.
'I was decent in '19, and then just fought my way back little by little.
'In '22, I felt I had a good season, but kind of started back then getting on a good trajectory to being at my best, which I feel I've been at for the last two years.'
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The two-time All-Star has learned to chill out more — and puts huge stock into looking after himself off the pitch.
Kerry's shock
Geaney trained with Jack O'Connor's men last night and should be fit to return for Saturday's preliminary quarter-final against Cavan in Killarney.
He would love to tell his younger self to loosen up, because loving the game makes it so much easier.
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KINGDOM COMMITMENT
He said: 'Maybe it was in my head probably way too early about time ticking, maybe 28, 29, thinking about what time is left. If I could go back today, I'd say, 'Just relax'.
'As you kind of come into an off-season, you're thinking, 'Am I able to go again? Can I commit to it time-wise? Can I commit to it family-wise?' All that sort of thing, work-wise.
'The other side of it is that I felt so in love with the game, and I was enjoying my football with my club so much in the off-season as well over the past two seasons.
'I think a run of getting older and smarter and treating myself better recovery-wise and in the off-season as well. I just stay on top of everything as much as I can.
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'It's hard to say no if you're available.
"I had a thing with my back surgeon there two years ago and he said, whatever you're doing, keep doing it because it's keeping you healthy. So I'll just do it as long as I can.'
l KERRY ace Paul Geaney speaking at the launch of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Series.