Sports Institute: Ian O'Riordanwas among those present as the Open champion did the honours for the new Setanta College

It's hard to imagine anyone being on such a high at the moment as Padraig Harrington - and so when he launched a savage attack on a GAA legend at Dublin's Berkeley Court hotel yesterday it was obvious he had his tongue firmly in cheek.

"That man ended my career," said Harrington, pointing to the back of the room where the former Dublin footballer Dessie Farrell stood biting his nails. More of which anon.

Harrington returned to business and proceeded with the formalities.

His old friends Liam Hennessy and Jim Kilty were launching their internet-based school of coaching, Setanta College, and with the instincts of a lottery winner had weeks ago asked Harrington to do the honours.

Typically, Harrington stuck to his word, even though the whole world has been knocking on his door since Sunday's win at the British Open.

Afterwards, Harrington took us aside to explain his startling allegation against the popular Dessie.

"Yeah, I was 16, and playing for Coláiste Éanna in the schools finals in Croke Park. I was normally full back. A little bit stout then, not the fitness person I am now. We'd done our homework and reckoned Dessie Farrell was their best, playing for St Vincent's at centre forward. So I moved out to mark him.

"I have to say, when he walked on to the pitch, I didn't think he looked that much. Then the ball was thrown in and knocked down from midfield to Dessie. And you'd want to see him go.

"It was a wet pitch, and he had me turned in an instant. I went to go after him and slipped, and to this day I still have treatment on my left wrist, I sprained it so badly. And that was my last game of football.

"I played on for the match, but wow, Dessie was quick. And it's very hard to tackle someone who dribbles the ball six inches off the ground.

"They won, but I did kick two points. A 50, and one from 55 yards as well. Having said that, I wouldn't be able to score from 10 yards. But from 50 yards I could, bearing in mind I was mostly a goalkeeper."

One got the sense, however, that Harrington has no great regrets about that premature ending to his Gaelic football career. But could he have been a contender?

"Well, I think if you come across any sportsman who has done anything in their career, they will believe they could have made it in any other sport. There's no way to achieve in your own sport if you don't have the inner confidence.

"I did love GAA, and really liked hurling, and maybe if I put same time and commitment into it I would hope, yes, I could have made it. But it's like every retiring footballer or tennis player thinks they're going to be a professional golfer. We all have the ego to believe we could have done anything. Some of us just don't show it as much.

"I probably would have been a better hurler, with the stick and the ball. I gave that up even earlier. But I do look at it now and think, yeah, I'd like to have a game of that again."

Harrington's energy for sport, not just golf, is infectious, and one of the reasons he hit it off with Hennessy. When it came to fully embracing professionalism in 1997 the man he looked to was Hennessy, the director of fitness with the IRFU, and they have worked together since.

"I never actually trained for golf. I was 15 stone after my first year on the tour. I've constantly held it at 13 stone now for the last two-and-a-half years. That's my fighting weight.

"But one of the big things Liam has taught me is to do less, and he stopped me from doing the wrong things.

"We're all brought up with this idea the harder you work the better it is. But when it comes to fitness you have to work smart as well as hard.

"And that's a big part of me winning tournaments now. When I finished Saturday's round I went straight to my physio for a rub-down, did some stretching, and that was it. Years ago I'd be so anxious I'd feel I needed two hours' practice.

"But believe it or not, Liam says the number one detriment to my physical well-being is talking. When I get excited I talk too much, and that takes so much out of me. I could play golf all day, no problem, but when I start giving it in talking, and the adrenaline rush of that, I always end up drained. And as Liam likes to tell me, in terms of training, I'm like a three-year-old."

Setanta College was in fact the brainchild of Kilty, who through his role as an athletics coach found himself being consulted by people from other sports, including Gaelic games.

The initial course in fitness and conditioning, approved by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, takes two years of home study and participation at centrally located workshops.

"This is what's called blended learning," explained Kilty, "and it's historic for sport and education in Ireland. Essentially it allows people to qualify in the area without interfering with their day job and is aimed at all managers, coaches, players and athletes."

Details of Setanta College are at www.setantacollege.com.