PADDY KIRK has revealed how he has addressed the performance anxiety which he said affected him in his first season back at Bohemians.
After spells with Longford Town and Sligo Rovers, Kirk returned to Dalymount Park for a second spell in 2023.
He was a regular although he missed out on selection for the FAI Cup final, against tonight’s opponents St Pat’s, before being introduced off the bench in the second half.
And Kirk has revealed how he sought help from friend Cameron Moules and — through PFA Ireland — Mary Larkin, who he believes have helped him produce better performances this time around.
Kirk, 25, told SunSport: “I feel I’m playing good football. I did a lot of work in the off-season on the pitch and, on the other side of it, going to a sports psychologist.
“It has really settled me in terms of how I am before a game, physically and mentally. I’ve placed an emphasis on that and I’m hitting the form that I would have wanted to last season.
“It took a bit of time which I think is normal when you’re settling in. It wasn’t really a focus thing and people think going to a sports psychologist, it’s the end of the world and you only go when you hit rock bottom.
“It’s not, it’s just to give you a hand and, mentally, I struggled with performance anxiety going into games because it did mean a lot to me playing for Bohs, in front of big crowds at Dalymount.
“It’s good to talk to someone with a fresh voice, separate to friends and family, about how things are going.”
It is all part of a more comprehensive approach involving strength and conditioning coach Graham Norton and video analyst Martin Doyle.
Kirk joked: “We’ve five drones at training. There’s no hiding place. It’s good, though, being able to review training and matches.”
Both men were in place under Declan Devine but his replacement Alan Reynolds has made one high-profile change to the backroom staff with former St Pat’s and Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell brought in as his assistant.
Kirk said: “Straight away, he had the respect of the dressing room because of what he’s done as a player and manager.
“It was a little bit unexpected but it shows where the club wants to go and that Stevie has bought into that and wants to be part of that as an assistant is a really big statement.
“There’s a really good balance in the roles and the staff is as strong as you’ll see in the country.”
WELCOME COMPETITION
Having arrived after the transfer window shut — although he is expected to be busy in the summer — Reynolds has added just one player to the squad, Jake Carroll.
The left-sided defender, 32, means more competition for Kirk but he appreciates the qualities the ex-St Pat’s, Huddersfield Town and Motherwell player brings to the table.
He said: “At the start you might worry about your position but competition is good and you see what he brings to the group, which is only positive.
“He’s been with us for a couple of months and you could see his work ethic in coming back from injury, and in the first video meeting and discussion he was one of the first to speak to the younger lads and help.
“That’s something that’s great to have more of in the dressing room, with the experience he has from the league here and abroad. He’s always there to give people a hand on and off the pitch. He’s great for myself.”
Naturally, Kirk will be keen to keep Carroll out of the side and displays such as the one he put in during the 3-0 win away to Sligo Rovers will help.
He said: “It was a good all-round performance with goals from all around the pitch. We’ve struggled at times to hold on to results so to get a second and third goal for some breathing room was nice.”