Fierce bravery, this.
Ronan Shanahan got a sniff during the McGrath Cup and he wanted more. He got a lungful of it on Saturday in Tralee.
He also got a fearsome boot in the face.
With the game poised at Kerry 1-9 to Mayo 0-12, Jason Doherty looked odds-on to score The Kingdom’s second goal. Kevin McLoughlin had done a fine job of hooshing Peter Crowley out from under a high ball and Doherty snatched it.
He took a step to his left and looked to rattle one past Brian Kelly but Shanahan wasn’t having a bit of it. The Austin Stack’s man scrambled over and launched himself at the Mayo forward’s shot.
Shanahan got a bit of hand and a lot of head in the way and copped a frightful whack on the head from Doherty’s follow-through.
The block left him clutching his face and Kelly was quick to flag for medical attention. He was treated on the pitch before being replaced by Jason Foley.
The reaction of Mark Griffin [pictured above, bottom left] show how much that block meant to the Kerry defence. It was celebrated like a goal. It is the type of mentality that will serve them well in the season ahead.
The rookie defender was having a fine game up until that point and is well regarded in Kerry football circles. One hopes he recovers in time for Kerry’s next league fixture, against Conor McManus and Monaghan, next weekend.
