"I don't have the drive at the moment to put it on and watch it back. Ah look, I will when the time comes. I’m probably not ready for it just yet."
Paul Conroy, the PwC GAA/GPA footballer of the month for July, isn't quite ready to look back on a stinging All-Ireland final defeat to Armagh.
Conroy received his award on Thursday, alongside fellow Galwegians Nicola Ward and Dervla Higgins, who picked up the July prizes for ladies football and camogie respectively, while Aoife Donohue was awarded camogie player of the month for August.
Despite the recognition, all four are still suffering from recent All-Ireland heartbreak, after Galway lost out in the showpieces for both men's and ladies football, as well camogie, over the past few weeks.
Conroy may feel extra cause for regret, as it was his last-gasp shot that was blocked down by Armagh's Joe McElroy in the dying seconds at Croke Park, as Galway tried in vain to force extra time.
"I remember seeing an opportunity opening up," Conroy (below) told RTÉ Sport after receiving his award.
"I think we were struggling to get good shots away. I remember kicking the shot and it getting blocked. In fairness, it was a great block but I was probably a little bit off balance from what I remember.
"To be honest, I haven't looked back at the game yet. I’ll look back at it over the next couple of weeks maybe."
Sixteen years after his championship debut, questions are being asked as to whether 35-year-old Conroy will lace up his boots once again in 2025, but the answer may have to wait.
"I haven't made any decision yet," said Conroy. "It's still very raw over the last couple of weeks. I don’t think it would be the right time to decide anything in terms of going forward.
"I’ll make the decision over the next while. Apart from the last game, I really enjoyed everything about 2024. I was happy enough with my performances. I’ll think about it and sit on it for a few weeks.
One of the factors being considered by Conroy is whether the drive is still there to go to the well again next year.
Two All-Ireland defeats in three years can take its toll, and while the midfielder feels okay physically, he wants to be sure that his whole heart is in it before committing himself.
"Physically, I feel good and fit and looking forward to getting back into the club season again," he said.
"I think it's the energy, mentally that you have to ask yourself in a couple of weeks time, when the lads are going back to pre-season do we have the drive there to go again?
"Simple as that. Sometimes, I can imagine players going back for themselves and they don’t have the energy to go back, there’s nothing left in the tank. So, you need to make sure that if you are going back that the drive is there.
"The last thing you want in the set-up is someone in there who only half wants to be there. I never want to be that player.
"Hopefully in a couple of weeks time, the mind will be a lot clearer."
Whether he is there himself or not, Conroy feels manager Pádraic Joyce is still the man to lead Galway to their first All-Ireland title since 2001.
"Pádraic has brought the group to such a high level," said the St James' clubman.
"Three Connacht finals in a row, two All-Ireland finals in three years, albeit we haven’t gotten over the line yet.
"There are such thin lines between winning and losing. It comes down to small margins. Opportunities that one team might take and another team might not take and a lucky break here and there.
"I’m hoping that Pádraic and his team stay on because he’s brought us to a level that we haven’t been at in a long time."
While individual awards are welcomed by Conroy, he says that an All-Ireland medal is the "one award that everyone wants," something which Nicola Ward agreed with after picking up her own monthly prize.
"When you’re playing football, it’s a team game," she said. "You don’t really think of winning these individual awards but it’s a great honour and a privilege, especially as its picked by players that you play against.
"When you play against them on the pitch, you might not think that they’d give you the nod but it’s a great honour and a privilege to be accepting this award."
Along with the Galway cohort, Tony Kelly of Clare picked up the prize for hurler of the month for July, while Ailbhe Clancy of Letirim was named ladies footballer of the month for August.
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