Had Kerry won last year's All-Ireland final, Kieran Donaghy said he would probably have retired from the inter-county scene. As it is, he's committed to another year and is instead reflecting on Paul Galvin's decision to retire for a second time.
I think this year was probably a bit too far for him. He's got a good business going now with Dunnes Stores and his clothes line is doing remarkably well. He's just after getting married. He's onto a new phase of his life. And I think when he sits up here in five or ten years in the Stands, he'll be happy with the body of work that he did and what he gave to the jersey and I don't think he could have given any more. And if we could all go out like that, we'll take it.
Donaghy was part of the GAA's launch of the Allianz League in Croke Park today. Kerry face the Dubs under lights in Croke Park this weekend but Donaghy won't be featuring.
Tralee unexpectedly reached the final of the intermediate Championships. Following the game, Donaghy will scoot from the National Basketball Arena over to Croke Park to watch Kerry from the stands. Donaghy said he was taking a break regardless.
I didn't not play the football because of this basketball game. I'd that decision made before we won our semi-final - which we weren't really fancied to win - I was training with my club until the 18th December and I'd been non-stop on the go for 25-26 months. Mentally, that side of going out and training in the long skins and the hats on and running into the sleet and snow. I just wasn't ready for it.
However, despite an exhausting couple of years, when asked if there was too much expected on inter-county footballers these days, his response was blunt. 'If they don't want to do it, they don't have to do it,' is his mantra.
As for Rory O'Carroll, absent for Dublin having been a constant presence for five years, Donaghy isn't inclined to doubt their ability to pluck another full back from their vast well of talent.
Well, there's a million people in Dublin, I think they'll find a fullback somewhere! I think there's lots of guys even within the panel that play in different positions that could slot back into full back. He'll be a loss for them but I'm sure they'll have no problem finding a good man to wear the no. 3 jersey for Dublin this year.
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Pictured at the launch of the 2016 Allianz Football League is Dublin’s Kevin McManamon, Cork’s Eoin Cadogan, Mayo’s Stephen Rochford and Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy. Division 1 champions Dublin face Kerry in the curtain-raiser under lights in Croke Park this Saturday, while Cork welcome Mayo to Pairc Ui Rinnon Sunday.
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