FINIAN HANLEY hails Paul Conroy as an all-time Galway great. The St. James’ man turned 35 last month - but is better than ever 16 years on from his SFC debut for the Tribes in 2008.
Hanley and boss Padraic Joyce were mainstays in the side when Conroy got the call from Liam Sammon in 2007 to join the squad, and has never looked back. Joyce has gone from team-mate to manager as Hanley and countless others came and went from the dressing room. Hanley retired from inter-county football in 2017 after 13 seasons in Maroon - and says their midfield maestro is the finest team-mate he ever had.
He told SunSport: “He's probably the best teammate we've had, or certainly I've had, in the Galway jersey. That’s the highest regard I can put him in. “He's a phenomenal person and a phenomenal footballer.
A lot of people who look at the matches on the telly would say he can kick scores. “But just the way he carries himself. He's never injured, he never sits out training.
He's always doing the hard stuff. He's a real, real honest guy. “He just loves putting on the jersey and he gives everything, every time.
As he says himself, he doesn't always play well. “Some days he might have a stinker but he leaves everything out there and he looks at it honestly. He's a brilliant teammate and he's been an excellent leader for Galway.
“I say that with talent, but I say that with his attitude and his Galway allegiance. Everything he gives for the jersey and the cause is phenomenal.” Conroy.
