Paul Galvin pushing for Kerry return after overcoming leg injury

Éamonn Fitzmaurice admits Munster final draw was bad day at office for his side

Eamonn Fitzmaurice speaks to his Kerry players at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Eamonn Fitzmaurice speaks to his Kerry players at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Kerry football manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice has put Paul Galvin back in contention to feature in the Munster

final replay against Cork on July 18th.

Galvin’s last appearance in championship was the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin. The former footballer of the year, who came out of retirement this season, has fully recovered from a quad injury.

"The five who did not make the cut the last day, are back in the mix, Paul Galvin, Pa Kilkenny, Alan Fitzgerald, Philip O'Connor and Podge O'Connor," said Fitzmaurice, who expressed surprise with the amount of negativity around the county in the wake of last Sunday's draw.

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“It’s like we lost, it’s like we are in the qualifiers. Of course, there are areas that we have to improve on the next day undoubtedly.

“We will be working on them for the replay. There were also a lot of positives.

“I was very proud of the lads, especially after winning the All-Ireland, the way they battled, as Cork appeared a bit hungrier than us. It would be easy enough, not maybe to throw in the towel, but not drive on. They did at the end. The lads could have said we are beaten here.

“They showed great guts and determination to show the composure, to open up the chance for Fionn [Fitzgerald] at the end.

“They were better than us on the sideline and on the field,” Fitzmaurice added.

“We got out of jail, we are still there and we all have to improve the next day. It doesn’t take a genius to know we didn’t have a great day on the line. We didn’t adapt. Too much can be made of the plans that are in place. When they go well you look like a genius, when they don’t work you look like you don’t have a clue.

“I said that plenty of times last year that when we were getting a lot of credit it was down to the players on the pitch implementing a game plan and when that goes well, everything is hunky dory. When things don’t work out everything is up for grabs. I would agree we didn’t have a good day at the office.”

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent