Step inside the mind of a GAA master

Extracts from Colm Cooper’s forthcoming biography

‘How would I replace the adrenalin? The buzz? The thrill of playing in front of 80,000 people? Truth is, I don’t suppose I ever will.’ THIS was the moment Colm Cooper realised he would never again play for Kerry and its impact was felt across the nation.

The gasps of despondency among Kerry’s faithful could be heard from Templenoe to Tarbert and in far off shores too, when Colm finally said enough. But we found solace in the memory of having witnessed a genius at work.

The finest forward of a generation they said; a whirling-dervish cutting through the iron fist of opposition, resplendent in the Kingdom’s green and gold – all now mere memories.

The Killarney man can now be found analysing games on RTÉ and he has also put pen to paper to give an insight into his remarkable career. Colm’s autobiography will be launched this Thursday evening in The Gleneagle Hotel at 6:30pm where Michael Lyster and a host of sporting celebrities will be in attendance to chat and reflect on an incredible career.

“The feedback from the book has been fantastic and it reveals a very honest and open side of Colm that maybe a lot of people didn’t see before. We’re really thrilled to be publishing it and very happy with the finished product,” said Fiona Murphy, Publicity Director.

The book is an honest and intimate insight into the trials and tribulations that have made Colm the man he is today – a life forged both on and off the field. Colm faced countless men from the north during his playing days, but his final northern opponent – Joe Brolly – is one who Colm admits probably caused Kerry folk more sleepless nights. Brolly is an educated man; but his assertion that Colm lacked ‘warrior status’ on the field is considered an utterance of immeasurable silliness in Kerry.

‘[he said] I lacked a warrior mentality; to the best of my knowledge he’s never seen me play in Kerry county championship or in Munster club, yet he believes he knows me better than those who have.’

All GAA folk will admit Colm’s greatest hour came bedecked in the black and amber of Dr Crokes. The club is like an incubator for GAA players; a place where they can grow to become national stars and Colm’s most precious Croke Park moment came on a dreary March day when the floodlights did their best to replace the glowing limelight of a late September afternoon.

‘I remember looking up at the big screen. It said 64 minutes on the clock...I turned around and Pat O’Shea was standing no more than 10 feet away...Then I picked myself up and suddenly all these cameras were in my face...at that moment they’re catching a side of me I’ve never shown. I’m crying.’

‘Gooch: The Autobiography’ will be on the shelves this

Thursday.