Marc Ó Sé needs no introduction when it comes to collecting GAA's player of the year, the Kerry great picked up the award in 2007 following the Kingdom's triumph over Munster rivals Cork in the decider.
Having been a mainstay in the Kerry defence for 14 years (2002-2016) alongside his brothers Darragh and Tomás, he will go down as one of the best to wear the green and gold. Speaking to The Buildup with Ladbrokes, the An Ghaeltacht clubman weighs in on the potential winners of the GAA's top individual award ahead of Sunday's final.
Dylan McHugh 1, Conor Turbitt 2 and I think Rían (O'Neill) is after putting himself in a position where he is possibly 3.
After 63 games, the 2024 All-Ireland SFC Final has produced a novel pairing, with @Armagh_GAA and @Galway_GAA poised to claim the Sam Maguire Cup!
Aidan Forker and Dylan McHugh look ahead to Sunday's showpiece with #GAANOW. 🗣️📹 pic.twitter.com/rXR3D1zdAh— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 26, 2024
However, Ó Sé is well aware that a big performance in Sunday's final can put a player right in the conversation to claim the player of the year award.
In any year the final has a huge part to play in it. You saw two years ago, David Clifford and Shane Walsh giving an exhibition (in the final) and Clifford ultimately winning player of the year as a result of that.
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He also acknowledges that Galway's wing-back Dylan McHugh is in pole position heading into Sunday's decider:
It's so important for a half-back that you can get up the field, the way the game has changed and evolved, you get bodies back behind the ball, If you have a player that can break that line like Dylan McHugh can do to great effect, I think it's so hard to stop a player like that, he can also put quick ball in to the inside line. To me, he has been by far the player of the year.
Having chipped in with 1-22 during his time with the Kingdom, Ó Sé knows a thing or two about defenders supporting the attack and has been impressed with the Galway man throughout 2024.
If he can replicate his recent form on Sunday, it will go a long way to bringing Sam back to the west.
