As the end neared, it was far from easy.
Marc Ó Sé was being held back by his body as niggling injuries took the wind out of his sails.
Having lost that initial burst of pace that served him so well over the years – since his first appearance in the senior squad, in 2001 – Ó Sé knew his time was running out. He contemplated a switch to sweeper but found Aidan O’Mahony given preference early in the season.
He told The GAA Hour that he did not go quietly in a final season that often saw his role reduced to that of support; fresh but ageing legs. Ó Sé commented:
“When I wasn’t getting my game, I had it out with [Kerry boss Eamon] Fitzmaurice. I won’t even tell you what I called him there to his face, one day, but all he could do was laugh.
“That’s Eamon. I think he preferred that we had that relationship. If you had a problem, you’d say it to him. If there was something you found wrong you would say it to him. So I did.
“I felt better after it and he, probably, felt better.”
Ultimately, the corner back accepted that time was catching up with him – “Nobody will ever be bigger than the Kerry team.”
He was desperately close to going out in a final against Mayo at Croke Park but Dublin had their say on that.
Following the match, Ó Sé lingered on the pitch to soak up the applause and take in the sheer majesty of Croker on match day. The fact that Kieran Donaghy and Aidan O’Mahony – two more men in their mid 30s – stayed out on that pitch with him felt like a farewell. It felt like that was it.
Ó Sé knew it was over for him but he is not so sure about his former county teammates.
When it was put to Ó Sé that the upcoming release of Donaghy’s autobiography was a sure sign he was done, he remarked, “Are you retiring Kieran Donaghy so?” He continued:
“I wouldn’t be so sure of the two boys [retiring] and if you know the two boys in question, I’d say they’d go on again and they’ll keep going with Kerry. I have no doubt about that.”
While Ó Sé’s affirmations may soothe Kerry supporters somewhat, he believes the next generation of players coming through will put The Kingdom right in the mix for All-Ireland titles.
“I looked at the extended panel for the Dublin match and you had 10 of those [young] fellas in there,” he said. “That will multiply this year. The future is bright.”
You can check out the full interview with Marc Ó Sé in a special edition of The GAA Hour. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
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