Galvin rules out retirement u-turn

Paul Galvin has no intention of reversing his decision to retire from inter-county football with Kerry in the wake of the cruciate knee ligament injury sustained by Colm Cooper.

Speaking to the media on Monday, the 2009 Footballer of the Year insisted a dramatic return to the Kerry colours following the crippling loss of Cooper was 'not on the agenda'.

However, the 34-year-old did concede that had Cooper suffered the injury before his decision to call time on his inter-county career in late January, it might have affected his decsion.

"It probably would have made it harder for me but I don't know. For me, I was just trying to give it time and it was proving very hard," Galvin said.

"I just felt that I'd come up short, in terms of trying to do all the things I was doing. But I suppose if I'm being very honest, it might have."

Cooper underwent surgery to repair his ruptured ACL and a fractured knee last Friday and may not be seen in a Kerry jersey again until well into the 2015 campaign.

While Galvin admitted that the loss of the Kingdom's talisman was a blow, he said Cooper's absence should not be allowed to cast a shadow over the rest of their season.

"I wouldn't be as down in the mouth about it as people have been. It's a blow, you're talking about probably the best player to have ever played the game, which is obviously a loss," he said of Cooper.

"Kerry are still in a good place. Kerry can't afford to be as down in the mouth as has been portrayed since Colm's injury, the group can't have that mentality."

Meanwhile, Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice says Cooper's mental strength will help him to get him through a lengthy rehabilitation.

"It's great for Colm to have the operation under his belt and he is on the road to recovery now," Fitzmaurice is quoted as saying in the Irish Independent.

"It's a long road ahead and it can be a lonely road at times but the hallmark of Colm down through the years has been his mental strength, so he will be fine in time.

"Naturally it was a huge disappointment for all of us, but particularly for Colm himself. You can be talking about the team, but when a player is captain, it's a big blow for that player personally.

"Colm will be fine, Colm will do his rehab, he will be back and we will drive on in the meantime."

We're Series Cyclists! The 2014 An Post Cycle Series was launched by this year's ambassador's comedian PJ Gallagher, former Kerry football star Paul Galvin, athlete Marian Heffernan, singer Bressie and broadcaster Matt Cooper alongside Irish Sports Council representative John Treacy. Five events will be held across the country, monthly between May and September, starting with the An Post Tour of Sligo on Sunday 4th May. Visit www.anpost.ie/cycling for more information on how to sign up.