Geaney 'fresh & eager' to keep Kingdom flame burning

In previous years, Paul Geaney gave retirement serious consideration.

Significant amount of time on the treatment table, both as soon as he joined the Kerry set-up and on a number of occasions since, limited his game time, limited his enjoyment. It began to chip away at his motivation.

A sparkling club campaign in 2021, which led into Kerry's all-conquering 2022 season, and it’s not hard to see why the 32-year-old says it was never an option to join David Moran in hanging up the inter-county boots.

"In years gone by it probably wasn't as clear cut as it was for me this year," he told RTÉ Sport on remaining at the inter-county coalface.

"I probably would have been more inclined to step away a couple of years ago than I would be now.

"I'm fresh and eager to play football and I'm enjoying my football as much as I ever have, if not more than some of my mid-twenties years.

"I think that's the key."

He won’t be togging out for the trip to Donegal - indeed manager Jack O’Connor will be without two-thirds of his All-Ireland final winning team for various reasons - due to a minor procedure on his ankle before Christmas, but the desire to get going again is palpable.

In part, it’s down to lost time.

Having joined the panel in 2011, it would be another two years before he made his championship debut, but a combination of injuries and preparation halted his early progress.

A Celtic Cross in 2014 was sandwiched by a litany of setbacks.

Hamstring issues and back spasms were the start of it. It quickly deteriorated. A shoulder injury and surgery for broken vertebrae was followed by cysts growth inside the spinal cord leading to leg pain.

For all his misfortune, there is a certain level of responsibility he accepts for those challenging early