Star on the rise
Paul Keaney made waves when he burst onto the scene in an award-winning Sigerson Cup campaign with UL. Here, he talks to Jane Haynes about county pride, the value of co-operative education, and his lifelong passion for football
Paul Keaney in full flight Pictures: Sportsfile
To be able to represent your county, it pushes you on to give your all, because you’re not just playing for the team – you’re playing for everyone around you.
It says everything about Paul Keaney’s quality as a footballer that, by the end of only his first Sigerson Cup campaign, in 2023, he claimed a coveted spot on the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Team of the Year. While UL may have fallen at the final hurdle, spectators and journalists alike marked him as an MVP in the University’s campaign for the biggest prize in third-level football – and his star is only on the rise.
While Limerick has been lucky enough to count Paul, 22, among its Sigerson contingent for the past two years, the Carrick-on-Shannon native has been wearing the Leitrim jersey since childhood, having first lined out for his county with the U14 team. Now representing Leitrim on the senior panel, UL Sports Scholar Paul says football was a way of life for him and his friends growing up.
“I was very lucky with my friends. There were maybe 10 or 12 of us that were mad about football, and it was kind of all we did,” he says.
Despite having a very successful foray into basketball, even winning the All-Ireland Schools competition in secondary school, football was always his first love.
“We were quite successful. We won the All-Ireland in first year, and for the next four years, we were All-Ireland semi-finalists. We never got across the line after that. It was mad – we were a team of footballers playing basketball!”
When it came to third-level, University of Limerick was a natural choice, says Paul. Drawn by the beautiful campus as well as the top-class sports facilities, he opted to study the Bachelor of Business Studies in Kemmy Business School.
“You can go anywhere from [the course], and that was really appealing to me,” says Paul, who majored in economics and finance, with a minor in entrepreneurship.
Naturally, UL GAA became an important part of the student experience for Paul, who made it into the Fresher A team in his first year before picking up an injury. With sport being a no-go during the pandemic, last year brought fresh opportunity – which Paul’s county manager, Andy Moran, was keen for him to grasp.
“I was in training one day, and Andy asked if I was playing Sigerson. He pushed me to go to the try-outs; I’m glad he did, it was a complete breath of fresh air. It’s very enjoyable football,” says Paul.
While this interview may have taken place mere days after UL suffered heartbreak in this year’s Sigerson Cup semi-final, he says the competition was game-changing for him on every level.
“It was amazing. You’re meeting lads from other counties and clubs that you would never have played with otherwise. You’re meeting people you get on great with, who you would never have known only for Sigerson,” says Paul, who plays his club football with St Mary’s.
“And the football is so enjoyable, so free-flowing. Even the bus journeys to the games are great craic … It’s not by choice, but a lot of us probably won’t see each other again, or we might never play together again, so that’s something I’ll really miss.”
Beyond sport, Paul has enjoyed all that life as a UL student has to offer – in particular, gaining hands-on experience in the business world. He undertook his Co-op in C & D Foods, one of Europe’s leading pet food manufacturers, in Mullingar. Mainly working in the area of contract negotiation, Paul says he “thoroughly enjoyed” the experience.
“Co-op was the best practice for preparing you for the working world. You can be in lecture halls and understand how and why things are done, but you don’t really know properly until you’re putting it into practice – co-op was huge for that."
Keen to broaden his knowledge and experience in business, Paul returned to Kemmy Business School this year to undertake the MSc in Human Resource Management. With his UL journey about to come to a close, talk turns to the future; and while travel is definitely on the cards, Paul is also excited to explore what opportunities may lie ahead in the business world. In the short-term, his mind is firmly fixed on completing his thesis – and, naturally, adding a few more sporting titles to his name. Indeed, his passion for club and county shines through as he shares his hopes of winning this year’s county final with St Mary’s, and scoring promotion for Leitrim.
“Playing for Leitrim has always been a dream. It’s just exciting when you put on the jersey and walk out. It’s a privilege, really – for your family, your club. To be able to represent your county, it pushes you on to give your all, because you’re not just playing for the team – you’re playing for everyone around you.”
Playing for Leitrim has always been a dream. It’s just exciting when you put on the jersey and walk out. It’s a privilege, really – for your family, your club.
