Oli Skehan
Oli Skehan is based in Dublin and contributes to our GAA and horse racing sections extensively.
He will be using his knowledge to provide blogs on both sports on a regular basis.
Galvin just can't help himself
Scores are what some players are all about. For others, tight marking is their bread and butter. High fielding is the speciality of a select few. Then there's Paul Galvin. Lamentably, the Kerry forward is becoming a one-trick pony. That trick is being sent-off.
There was plenty of hype surrounding the Munster SFC semi-final replay at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening. Cork looked the part in the Fitzgerald Stadium sunshine for most of the opening game. However, in the end they were hanging on despite the fact Bryan Sheehan levelled the game with seconds to go.
A late start to the replay ensured the tension was increased a notch or two. When the perennial Munster rivals did adorn the sod by the Lee it was Cork who upped the ante, and how. Bar a lull at the beginning of the second-half of what was a high intensity game, Conor Counihan's side showed all the necessary qualities to be considered genuine All-Ireland contenders.
For their part, Kerry, who fell at the final hurdle last year, looked flat and lacking any real imagination or focus. One could suggest they are a team that have gone to the well one too many times. However, it would be foolish to write them off at this early stage. After all they took the qualifier route last year before finding Tyrone too good.
Both teams were reduced to 14 men after 25 minutes when an elbow from Paul Galvin, YES, Paul Galvin, brought a retaliatory punch from Noel O'Leary, YES, Noel O'Leary. Pat McEnaney, probably the best referee in the country, wasted no time in flashing two red cards.