As the 2018 Munster Championship enters its early embers, James O'Donoghue has plenty of reason to be raring to go.
The Kerry corner forward's past few seasons have been impacted by injuries but given the layoffs he's had to contend with, the 27 year old Killarney Legion club man feels rejuvenated, as he told Joe in an in-depth Off The Ball interview.
"I'm happy enough with it because I feel like I'm 22 again," he said.
"I know it sounds messed up but it's like I've come in and I'm not sure about where I am in the panel, in the team. I got those insecurities kind of again that drive you. They give you way more. And I think it's a nice way to be and then obviously you still have the confidence you've got from before that you can get back.
"But about injuries, you can't be the same player again. You have to be different and be better."
James O’Donoghue of Kerry ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
In his case, he feels a "little bit more tuned into the game" as he prepares for the second half of his career.
O'Donoghue also discussed the temptation and consequent drawbacks of rushing back from injury, before discussing his fascination with keeping an eye on tactical trends in Gaelic football.
"That's what's makes it interesting. Say if you had your team who likes having the ball and likes dominating it but they come up against a team who are counter-attacking who enjoy having a team have the ball," he said.
"They don't want the ball. All they want to do is hit you on the break when you make a mistake. You can see both teams have what they want. One team has the ball, they're happy out and another team is waiting for the break. It's panning out as you kind of expect it.
"I think that was going to happen in the Galway-Mayo game but obviously the red card kind of changed it and adds another dimension.
"But then you have to remember, you have your own way of playing and you have to focus in on that and not get distracted."
Full interview:
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