PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for July in football, Paul Conroy of Galway, with his award in Galway.
By Cian O’Connell
Paul Conroy will decide on his senior inter-county future soon.
The St James’ clubman, who made his Galway senior debut in 2008, starred for Pádraic Joyce’s outfit again this year.
Conroy landed three points from play in last month’s All-Ireland SFC Final as Galway suffered a narrow defeat against Armagh at Croke Park. “I haven't made any decision yet,” Conroy replied when asked whether he’d be involved with Galway in 2025.
“It is still very raw, the last couple of weeks. I don't think it would be the right time to decide anything in terms of going forward. I'm going to make the decision over the next while, I haven't decided yet.
“We will see, I really enjoyed, apart from the last game, I really enjoyed everything about 2024. I was happy enough with my performances and stuff, so I will think about it, and sit on it for a few weeks.”
Conroy feels physically able to continue, but he explained what will be factored into his decision making process. “I think the biggest challenge, I find, I don't know about other players, is the mental side and the energy side,” Conroy says.
“Physically, I enjoy training. If I wasn't playing with Galway next year, I'd be training away myself. It is just to see if the drive, energy, and want is there. It has to be if you want to go back at that level.”
Pádraic Joyce and Paul Conroy following Galway's All-Ireland SFC Semi-Final win over Donegal. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Galway have contested two All-Ireland finals in the past three years, and Conroy acknowledges that it matters to be relevant nationally once more. “I think so, I do,” he responded.
“Before the semi-final in '18, I was involved for a lot of years where we weren't near the top table, if you'd like. We got to the odd quarter final, but we weren't competitive.
“For young people in Galway, looking on, and growing up, seeing their heroes playing nationally in big games, it is very good for the next generation.
“Obviously, for the players themselves, knowing that you're reaching semi-finals and finals, being in Division One, you're competing. I think you know then you're not a million miles off.”
Manager Joyce’s significant contribution to the Galway football story was also praised by Conroy. “He is excellent, he is the same as he was as a player,” Conroy says.
“He is a winner. He'd be more upset now than anybody about the last couple of weeks. He said when he started off what he wanted to achieve as a manager, that was to win Sam Maguire. He was the same as a player, he'd have taken or grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck a lot of the time.
“He says things straight up, which I think players respect. There is no grey area with him, it is black or white.
Galway's Paul Conroy in action during the 2024 All-Ireland SFC Final. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
“We just hope, Galway as a group, that Padraic will be there next year because he is huge to that set-up. He is excellent to play under and he gives lads serious confidence. Hopefully he stays on.”
On Saturday Conroy will feature for St James’ against Monivea-Abbey in the Bon Secours Galway SFC. Earlier that day, an U11 festival of football remembering his friend Darragh Frain, will be hosted by James’ in Mervue. “Darragh was a good man, he was around a lot when we were young,” Conroy says. “He had a really awful illness.”
Conroy recalls attending the 2001 All-Ireland SFC Final with Frain and his father, Seán, who contributed handsomely to the development of football in the Renmore area. “I remember Darragh was good friends with our family, Dad, my father, who isn't alive now, but I remember the 2001 final against Meath, he came up with Dad and myself,” Conroy says.
“We were watching it on The Hill, the three of us. He was a good man, he had a very hard time of it with illness. It is great to see that they are still thinking about him.
“This tournament is brilliant, the work that Dave Henry puts into it. I think it is great to keep the name of somebody like that alive because they did a lot, they mean a lot to a lot of people.”
It also underlines the value of sport according to Conroy. “That is it, 100 per cent,” Conroy responds.
“Darragh didn't play much sport, but he was heavily involved, he was a great man to chat to after a game, different things like that. I'd often think of him, his brother is involved with us in the club. They are a very nice family, you'd miss him around the place, in fairness.”
