The voice is quiet and you wonder is it because of the effects of what he describes as "a super head cold" that, of all the days in the year, decided to infiltrate his immune system just last Friday, bang in the middle of the final countdown. The timing couldn't have been worse, particularly given that he had only recovered from a viral infection, and Padraig Joyce cursed his luck.

Whatever, now, in a dressing-room that is unsure whether to be full of the joys of life or disappointed at not completing the fightback to end all fightbacks, Joyce is calm and measured in his assessment.

Not only did Galway jump into the fire and emerge unburnt and able to fight another day, but the captain - as you've come to expect - has again played his part. Six points, all from frees, and an inspirational performance.

So, the much-vaunted duel with Seamus Moynihan failed to take place - "I ran away from him," quipped Joyce - apart from the opening minutes when the ball was mainly at the other end of the field at a period when Kerry reigned supreme, but Joyce's versatility and leadership qualities ensured that, `flu or no `flu, he was to play a crucial role as the match evolved.

The nerves and jitters that afflicted Galway's ball-handling in the early part of the game took Joyce by surprise. "We'd planned for a good start, but it was a total disaster on our parts. To be eight-one down . . . to be quite honest with you, I'm pretty relieved to be going back out again on Saturday week.

"We looked nervous on the field, but I don't know where the nerves came from. In here in the dressing-room beforehand, everyone was relaxed and calm. There was nothing wrong.

"In the first few minutes (of the game), people were probably waiting for things to happen instead of making things happen themselves. Hopefully, we can learn from that and next day won't be as bad." As far as Galway's renaissance was concerned, the decision to move Joyce out to centre-half forward was an instrumental factor. "We had to try to do something at that stage," admitted manager John O'Mahony. "I thought Padraig changed the face of the game when he went out and everyone improved as a result of that."

Joyce is almost casual about the circumstances that brought about the move. "Ah, sure, inside the first few minutes I'd kicked a bad wide and Seamus (Moynihan) won two or three balls off me. We weren't really getting the supply inside and John (O'Mahony) told me to move outfield.

Lucky I got two or three breaks, kicked one or two frees, and that got us back into the game a little bit. All in all, I'm happy to be on the field . . . if John wants me to go back to full back, I'd go back there."

Quiet words with a deep message. This is a player who gives his all to the Galway cause and even some seasonal cold wasn't going to deter him.

"I'd got over the virus, but then, on Thursday night or Friday, I got this super head cold. I'd a runny nose and stuff like that and in the final 10 minutes of the match it kind of told on me. I was coughing a bit and couldn't get my wind."

He still had it in him, however, to make a late charge through the Kerry defence in search of a pass from Derek Savage that didn't come.

"I've had a chat with him (Derek) and he knows it now . . . we hit six balls into the goalie's chest and, at the end of the day, you don't kick balls into Declan O'Keeffe's hands. Sure that man will block them one on one, never mind along the ground from 30 yards.

"All in all, Derek played really well and, sure, he was a bit unfortunate because the ball had just dropped onto his right foot when I called so maybe I put him off a bit, he didn't hit the shot strong enough. Obviously I'm disappointed, he should have passed, but as long as you learn from it the next day, then I've no problem with it."

The next day. At least Galway managed to overcome their disastrous start and Joyce - making the observation that Joe Bergin is "young and will bounce back from it" - emphasised the contribution made by Kevin Walsh on his introduction as a substitute midway through the first-half at a time when Kerry led by five points to one.

"Kevin came into midfield and played an outstanding game. He settled the ship down, caught a few great balls for us . . . I'm delighted and happy to have the chance on Saturday week. We showed great character to come back into the game."

And with that, another coughing spurt escapes Joyce's bare chest, proof, if it were needed, that despite their superhuman endeavours, these men are mere mortals