ANNA GALVIN says being ‘clinical and cold’ was key to Kerry’s historic All-Ireland triumph. The Munster champions steamrolled Galway to get their hands on the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time since 1993. Kerry’s laser focus was clear as they produced their best performance of the season when it mattered most.
Galvin was captain in 2022 when the Kingdom lost to Meath and there was more final heartache last year when Dublin defeated them . The 29-year-old was also part of the panel in 2012 when Kerry lost that year’s final to Cork. Looking back she reckons that embracing the colour and emotion of those finals cost them — and they did not make the same mistake again.
Midfielder Galvin said: “It was very emotional in 2022 and we toned that down a bit last year. "We cut it out this year altogether. “There were no emotions.
It was very much, ‘Next game, let’s get a job done here’. "We needed that because of the energy needed. You don’t realise how sapping that is.
“Having gone on to the pitch with all that extra energy, we didn’t have in other years maybe, yeah, it was probably a better approach. “We had the luxury of doing that. "You do have to relish All-Irelands when you get to them as well but because we had done that in previous years.
"We did relish them but we didn’t get over the line. “This year we were able to be that bit more clinical and cold about it maybe.” The addition of sports psychologist Claire Thornton to the group this ye.