Paul Murphy's diary now filling up with winning entries

In 2021, three boxes were left unticked on Paul Murphy's diary. Yes, he started writing a diary and key to it was winning the All-Ireland with Kerry and then having success with club sides East Kerry and Rathmore.

The dream would be realised, it's just that it happened a year later.

July last saw Murphy pick up a second All-Ireland title after Kerry edged out Galway. At the end of October more silverware came as East Kerry won the Kingdom senior championship and then to cap the year off Murphy helped Rathmore lift the intermediate title.

The journey with the latter continues. On Sunday next, Galbally Pearses from Tyrone await in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park.

On that diary and those three entries, Murphy told RTÉ Sport in advance of Sunday's decider: "It's funny, in 2021 I had a diary and they were the three targets that I put at the front of the diary then. I'd read something about goal-setting, that you explicitly put it on the diary, and it's on the front page, you'd see it every time. But sure the three boxes were left unticked.

"So when 2022 came around, I said I wasn't going to bother with that. It hadn't worked out in 2021. But the way the year went last year, you couldn't have asked for better. Every team I was involved with were successful. So it's pinch-yourself stuff. I'm really fortunate to be involved with such good panels and with such good management teams behind them.

"Between the three teams, we had a brilliant year of it in '22. A huge amount of work goes in for each of those teams and campaigns so the real enjoyment is winning, and to see that work being rewarded is savage.

"The few days after then celebrating with the lads, is brilliant. I had to cut the intermediate celebrations short, I had to fly