Kieran Donaghy is set to link up with Galway hurlers as the 2017 All-Ireland champions have appointed the former Footballer of the Year as their new performance coach.
Donaghy only retired following a glittering career with Kerry at the end of last season and he is diving straight back in at the elite level, as reported by the Irish Independent.
His Kingdom team-mates always spoke about his infectious personality and positive nature and the Tribesmen are hoping to harness this.
"I've brought in different people at different times from outside the box and when I was thinking about it, I thought of him. I had met him a few times," explained Galway boss Micheál Donoghue.
"He's somebody that commands massive respect and is recognised for what he has achieved and his character and personality is something that can be grasped on to straight away."
Most top teams in GAA now have performance coaches, which is a role that doesn’t necessarily involve taking any part in training or tactics.
Rather, these coaches work on the mental side of the game and players’ lifestyles.
Galway won the All-Ireland two seasons ago in style, but they were unable to retain their title as they lost to Limerick by a point in last year’s epic decider.
Donaghy burst onto the scene in 2006 when then-Kerry manager Jack O’Connor converted him from a midfielder to a target-man full-forward.
The Kingdom won Sam Maguire that September and Donaghy was named Footballer of the Year. He went on to add three more All-Ireland medals before bowing out as Kerry failed to get past the All-Ireland quarter-final Super 8s stage last summer.
He already has a multi-sport background, having made his name first as a basketballer and is currently starring with Tralee Warriors in the Men's Super League.
