No greater sacrifice can a GAA football star-turned-politician candidate make than to lay down his club for a seat, if Fine Gael's Graham Geraghty is any guide.
One of Fine Gael's two candidates in Meath West, Geraghty sought a transfer from his senior club, Seneschalstown to a junior team, Clann na nGael - which incorporates Athboy and Rath Cairn.
The Clann na nGael club is in Geraghty's constituency while Seneschalstown is not, though Geraghty has been living in Athboy for 10 years, TG4 reported last night.
"I've been living in Athboy for 10 years and I've a young family growing up over here and most of my friends are playing with the club and I'm just happy to join them this year," he declared.
Geraghty, who captained the last Meath team to win an all-Ireland senior football title in 1999, plays his first game in his new colours next Sunday in Rath Cairn.
His departure was opposed by Seneschalstown, which formally objected to his transfer request - though it insisted that there was nothing personal in their decision to do so.
Geraghty, who remains a county footballer despite his drive for a Dáil seat, is back on the Meath team after he was penalised for verbally abusing a referee.
