Marc O'Sé called time one of the great GAA dynasties by announcing his retirement from inter-county football. Next year will be the first since 1993 that a Kerry side will embark on a Championship season without an O'Sé among their ranks.
Conor Neville of this parish has put together some of the absurd facts, stats and numbers which out the O'Sé's achievements into context.
O'Sé appeared on Newstalk's Off the Ball this evening following the announcement this morning, in which he looked back over his career, and how playing for Kerry was "everything".
When asked by Ger Gilroy as to what moments he looked back on most fondly, O'Sé did not reach for any of the five Celtic Crosses in his pocket. Nope, he had two slightly surprising favourite memories:
You look back on the 2006 quarter-final againt Armagh. There was this element that we couldn't beat a northern team, so when you do that - obviously we were beaten by Armagh in 2002 and Tyrone in 2003 and there was a public percption out there indicating that we couldn't beat the northern sides - so beating Armagh in 2006 was the monkey off the backs in many ways.
The other game that comes to mind is the 2014 replay above in Limerick [against Mayo]. It's a great memory really, because I was dropped for the replay, and it was like a bolt of lightning, I didn't see it coming at all. then you're sitting down watching the replay, wondering 'Jesus, what's the story here, will I get a run at all' and lo and behold after 20 minutes you're in the game. Now, you're seven or eight points down, but you're in the game.
But then again I was very lucky in that situation. You had Shane Enright on a yellow card, lucky not to get a black, then I was brought from the subs bench. Usually, the backs don't get to come on until maybe 65 minutes or so, it's usually the forwards they bring on.
So I was very lucky that day, and things could have worked out very differently for me.
O'Sé also made an earlier appearance on RTE, in which he regaled a wonderful story involving his late uncle, Páidí.
I said to Páidí one day after winning my fourth [All-Ireland], I said "I've four now Páidí, I'm catching up". He put out his two hands and he said "unless you can count on both hands you're no good".
I didn't quite get there but it wasn't bad.
[Off the Ball]
See Also: Cork Says 'No': County Explain Why They're Against GAA's Championship Changes - And A Rare Defence Of Replays
See Also: "One Of The All-Time Greats" - Tributes Pour In As Marc O'Sé Retires From Inter-County Football
