Kieran Donaghy was a steaming mass of Deep Heat by the time we got to him. The end of the year hadn't come a day too soon – his back hurt, his legs hurt, his body needed to rest. But at the same time, if for some reason there'd been another mile to go, he'd have suited up for that too. The past few months have been a ride you don't get off unless you absolutely have to.
You only need a cursory interest to be able to reel off the stopping points from mid-summer onwards. Out of the Kerry team, seemingly discarded. Back to save their season against Mayo. Game-breaking goal in the All-Ireland final.
A first ever county medal with Stacks. Now a first Munster title for a club that hasn't tasted that sort of success since the days of Mikey Sheehy, Ger Power and John O'Keeffe. A life turned on its head, so much so that there must be a danger of not appreciating it as it flies by.
Hyper-critical
“I do appreciate things,” he replies, his voice beginning to catch. “Because when I was 18, 19 I wasn’t an underage sensation who was always going to go on and play (for Kerry). I kind of wrangled my way onto the Kerry panel and team. I was suddenly in there.
“I’ve always been hyper-critical and down on myself when I don’t play well, so I try to take it in when we win. Sport is funny. I’ve had a lot of cruel days and unbelievable days, I’ve been very lucky in my career to have more good days than bad. They always say the bad ones stick with you more than the happy times, but this is one you can really enjoy.
“We’re a month away from Christmas, family is coming home. My brother’s coming home from Australia and he made me promise a few nights ago to win so he could be here for the All-Ireland semi-final. He hasn’t been home in five-and-a-half years. He hasn’t seen a game.
“So, little things like that. We had people coming from Australia and America for the Munster final. The support’s been unbelievable. And I’ll soak it in and enjoy it as much as possible. Mama told me there’d be days like this.”
That Stacks got out of Sunday’s Munster final with a 3-5 to 2-4 win at all was a tribute to their fortitude. Six points down inside the first eight minutes, a man down inside the first quarter, they dug in and found a way to spirit the cup back to Tralee. Donaghy didn’t have one of his better games but he never hid and he never quailed. You couldn’t begrudge him his reward.
“You can have game-plans and set your stall out, but suddenly you’re six points and a man down, and the tactic book goes out the window. It comes down to the characters on a team, and whether a team has the character and the balls to go for it.
“We were facing an uphill battle, a kind we mightn’t have faced before, and we had to dig deep.
“But the crowd and a few inspirational players dug us out of that hole. It’s an amazing win for us – it’s nearly 40 years since the club won a Munster title, and it’s great to be part of this team.
Warhorse of a stadium
“I thought I’d seen the last of Páirc Uí Chaoimh after the Munster final, but to be here for the last game in this old warhorse of a stadium, with the smallest dressing-rooms in the world. I said to our physio, Paudie McQuinn, in the warm-up, that it was nice to see Austin Stacks up there on the scoreboard in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It’s huge for the club and it’ll make the winter short for the people of Stacks.”
