Paul Geaney credits Kerry stats guru Colin Trainor for making a crucial late decision in Sunday’s All-Ireland Club final win over St Brigid’s
Amid all the chaos, Paul Geaney was the coolest man in Croke Park. Everyone except Martin McNally thought the game was over.
No need for penalties as Mikey Geaney’s late winner broke the hearts of St Brigid’s in what ought to have been the last act of a thrilling All-Ireland Club SFC final.
Conor Carroll’s kickout was greeted by a whistle from McNally, but not the full-time one. Instead, he called St Brigid’s for an infraction as their players didn’t clear the arc in time.
Rather than tapping the free over the bar, Daingean Uí Chúis star Paul Geaney remembered words of wisdom passed on by Colin Trainor – Kerry football’s stats guru – and kicked the ball wide into the Hill 16 terrace.
“He (McNally) said he’d blown the whistle for an infringement within the arc which is a free-in. The defenders have to be outside the arc,” explained Geaney.
“Colin Trainor would be proud of me with that one. We’ve had discussions about that and he reckons players don’t take into account the probability of (hitting) the crossbar and stuff.
“We’ve the game won so why would you try and pad your stats?”
Sunday’s incredible finale brought the curtain down on a truly memorable club season with Daingean Uí Chúis playing their part with back-to-back extra-time wins, not to mention their last-gasp victory over St Finbarr’s in the Munster final.
Geaney expected another battle with St Brigid’s in Sunday’s decider with both teams giving their all over over 80 minutes of breathless action.
“We played so many quality teams, that’s the team you’re playing against, the country champions of every other county,” said Geaney.
“They all have their own stories and their own journeys and they’re not just going to pack it in. It’s not as easy as you start well, which we did today, and you go on and you stay on top.
“All these teams are champions. It’s very difficult to win this thing. You see the roll of honour. Different counties win it, different clubs representing different counties win it.
“That was going to be the way of the game, ebbing and flowing. I felt that maybe when they missed that close enough free, that maybe we had the chance there, because if that one went over it was always going to four.
“At the same time, we all felt that we were always going to stay in and give it our all.”
