'An Fíor Graham Geraghty' - Meath legend on TG4 tonight

Talented, unorthodox, volatile, and photo-friendly - Graham Geraghty proved a larger than life godsend to the emerging tabloid culture of the 1990s and Oughties. Graham was a controversial and outrageously gifted footballer. There was a must win, aggressive edge to his game that caused fireworks whenever he played.
His reputation as a “hard man” wasn’t helped by a demonstration of his martial arts skills in the 1998 film Fatal Deviation. Produced in Meath this Mollywood feature showed Geraghty head butting his way to victory in a classic pit fighting sequence. But on the pitch Geraghty had to endure the constant provocation of less gifted opponents and a dubious level of protection from referees. 
Graham’s career was littered with a series of suspensions. And it would seem in retrospect the disciplinary system treated him particularly harshly. He served two months at one point for a mild swear word aimed at a linesmen who had caused him to be sent off - in the wrong, as video evidence later revealed. A 48 week suspension by his own county board caused ructions across Meath. 
The media were also constantly on Graham’s case. An ill judged racist remark on a combined rules tour of Australia – that Graham intensely regretted as the low point of his career – made the evening TV news. Geraghty photospreads were regular tabloid events. Fabricated rumours about his private life caused himself and his family a lot of pain.
Such issues sometimes overshadowed the superb sportsman that Graham was. He still holds an underage Irish sprint record. The young Graham’s skill and athleticism impressed Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and Arsenal gave him an extended trial. He also lined out with Buccaneers rugby club. 
But it was as a footballer he showed his true genius. From the time he announced himself in the 1994 Leinster final scoring 1 -2 from right half back he graced the game with a succession of wonderful scores. His unique improvisation against Tyrone in the 2007 All Ireland QF has to make any listing of football’s top goals. However he was also an astute provider who could “spot you through the eye of a needle”, as team mate Tommy Dowd remembers in this TG4 documentary.
An Fíor Graham Geraghty also reminds us there were aspects of Graham’s life that the media never fully explored such as the social consciousness that saw him standing for Fine Gael in the 2007 general election. His skills as a coach and selector were such that he has been tipped as a potential Meath manager. And he always had a special rapport with young people as a coach and mentor. In fact Graham is now a full time social worker helping adolescent boys to repair their fractured lives. 
Graham’s life journey has been a roller coaster ride of vivid incident and lively anecdote. 'An Fíor Graham Geraghty' attempts to provide its audience with a glimpse of the real person behind the media hype that constantly surrounded him as a player.

An Fíor Graham Geraghty - click for a preview

 

Laochra Gael – on TG4 – every Wednesday at 9.30pm

Other programmes coming in this series:-

Ashling Thompson - Gaiscíoch - Ban 
Wednesday 14th March at 21.30pm (Repeat: Friday 16th March at 11:25pm)
Henry Shefflin - Rí na gCat  
 Wednesday 21st March at 21.30pm, (Repeat: Friday 23rd March at 11:25pm)
Mickey Harte - Spiorad Dochloíte 
 Wednesday 28th March at 21.30pm, (Repeat: Friday 30th March at 11:25pm)