Kevin McManamon has not given up on being a part of Dublin's push for seven All-Ireland SFC titles in a row this summer after an "incredible" stint in Tokyo with Ireland's Olympics boxers.
McManamon has been working with the fighters as a sports psychologist since 2017, coming in after Bernard Dunne was appointed as the IABA's boxing high performance director. Dunne previously had a spell with the Dubs under Jim Gavin as a sports performance and lifestyle coach.
"It wasn't the easiest decision," McManamon told RTÉ 2fm's Game One when reflecting on his choice to go to Japan last month.
"It was something I thought long and hard about. It's my job. I love my job possibly as much as I love my sporting career. It is what it is. I just have to accept I'm not going to be able to be involved as much as I would like with football this season. We'll see how it goes.
"There's still a bit of time left in the year. We'll see how I can impact it over the next few weeks."
Aidan Walsh won bronze and Kellie Harrington took home the gold in what was a glorious climax to the Games for Ireland.
McManamon said the whole experience was something he will never forget.
"It was incredible, just a brilliant way to wrap up. We were gone nearly six weeks. I think everyone was looking forward to getting back and seeing their friends and family, getting back to a bit of normality, but it was an amazing experience.
"The Olympic Village was amazing. It was like a freak show. You're seeing the tallest people in the world, the strongest people in the world. You'd see really small people and think, 'I wonder what sport they are in', and then it'd turn out they are the best gymnast in the world. It was amazing to be in that environment. Our team handled it really well. There's so much happening and the distractions get ramped up.
"Mainly I see myself as being there to help them perform under pressure. Boxing is a very technical and tactical sport. We have some of the best technical coaches in the world.
"Because the sport is so technical, they just need someone to keep an eye on that mindset side of things... that's basically my role. I make sure they're focusing on the right things under pressure, that they're avoiding things like over thinking, that they are ruthless and following the game plan, they are staying composed when it matters most.
"Someone described my role recently as the fellah there to accelerate experience which I really liked because it's the sort of stuff people learn naturally - all we do is put a bit of a process in place."
McManamon also hailed Harrington who shone in the lightweight final to beat reigning world champion Beatriz Ferreira when it mattered most.
"It felt to me like the whole country was expecting Kellie to win a gold medal. That can be tricky to deal with," he said.
"You can see how she's different in such an amazing way. She'd be like, 'I'm a good enough person whether I win or lose...'
"She's a lovely person to work with. The dedication, she's a system fighter. What I mean by that is, she doesn't just start training when there's a Europeans or Worlds in three months' time. She lives the life. She structures her life in a way that helps her get the best out of herself. Those are the athletes that end up winning.
"Emotional control is so important and she has a great way of doing that. There was so much love coming from home. I saw a video of a guy, Mick the busker... apparently Kellie loves this guy. He was outside her gaff in Portland Row singing 'The Town I Loved So Well'. I believe he wrote a song about Kellie.
"It's hard not to get emotional when you see how much you're impacting your home place like she's doing.
"We were all in bits in tears in the stands watching her."
