strong rumours around last night that Darragh O Se will announce his retirement today. Will have to wait a few more hours to see if its true or not. 6 All Ireland medals is some haul if its to end at that
Quote from: magickingdom on February 17, 2010, 10:42:19 AM
strong rumours around last night that Darragh O Se will announce his retirement today. Will have to wait a few more hours to see if its true or not. 6 All Ireland medals is some haul if its to end at that
I had heard he was going to give it one more go.
But he's had a long and fruitful careeer, 6 AI medals in the modern era is unreal.
Without doubt the player of the modern era, and 12 years between your first and last (if he is indeed to retire) All Ireland medals speaks volumes for his commitment in the modern era. One of the all time greats
A dirty big fcuker but an unreal player and a some man for the big occasion
Quote from: full back on February 17, 2010, 11:45:39 AM
A dirty big fcuker but an unreal player and a some man for the big occasion
Wouldn't have called him dirty - he could mix it and play it whatever way you wanted.
A man you'd always have wanted on your own team.
Quote from: orangeman on February 17, 2010, 11:50:24 AM
Quote from: full back on February 17, 2010, 11:45:39 AM
A dirty big fcuker but an unreal player and a some man for the big occasion
Wouldn't have called him dirty - he could mix it and play it whatever way you wanted.
A man you'd always have wanted on your own team.
the footballers down round waterville call him a dirty hoor !!
I heard last week (from a Tralee lad) that both Darragh and Tomas were set to retire
I dont think tomas will, hes too young !
that woul dbe a savage blow for Kerry to lose one of them - but two..would be a disaster and Cork odds on !
There was some debate on the James Nallen thread about whether he was a "legend" or not, Darragh is a legend without doubt. The best midfielder of his generation.
Official:
Kerry legend Ó Sé retires
Kerry legend Darragh Ó Sé today announced his retirement from intercounty football, though admitted it will be difficult to hang up the boots after such a distinguished career with the Kingdom.
And some player he was, go n-éirí an bóthar leis.
Quote from: T Fearon on February 17, 2010, 11:36:16 AM
Without doubt the player of the modern era, and 12 years between your first and last (if he is indeed to retire) All Ireland medals speaks volumes for his commitment in the modern era. One of the all time greats
for once tony is right.
Great player. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement from County football.
Darragh O'Se got better as the years went on. If he was dominated in a game then most likely Kerry would lose, but this didn't happen too often. A big loss for Kerry, even though the legs may not have carried him for another season. Great leader psychologically for Kerry.
Kerry footballer Darragh Ó Sé has confirmed his retirement from inter-county football.
Ó Sé has been a member of the Kerry squad since 1994, winning six All-Ireland titles and being named an All Star three times.
Speaking on An Saol ó Dheas today on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Ó Sé said that he is looking forward to being able to spend more time with his wife Amy and his family.
Ó Sé admitted that it would be difficult to be in the audience for the big matches and not on the field, but was confident that Kerry had a very strong team and that they would continue to do well into the future and wished them all the best.
and so ends the IC career of one of the greatest players, never mind mid-fielders, of the modern era
well thats a big hole for kerry to fill, he saved them several times from losing big games.good luck to him and this makes the chance of a new champion more realistic, cork and dublin will be taking note.
Quote from: mannix on February 17, 2010, 01:22:47 PM
well thats a big hole for kerry to fill, he saved them several times from losing big games.good luck to him and this makes the chance of a new champion more realistic, cork and dublin will be taking note.
Without sounding like I don't appreciate O'Sé's importance I think this is a little OTT. Kerry will fill the hole.
O' Se, Walsh and Kinnelly all leaving the Kerry panel in one go, surely that must set them back a bit for a year or 2.
Quote from: Zapatista on February 17, 2010, 01:26:41 PM
Quote from: mannix on February 17, 2010, 01:22:47 PM
well thats a big hole for kerry to fill, he saved them several times from losing big games.good luck to him and this makes the chance of a new champion more realistic, cork and dublin will be taking note.
Without sounding like I don't appreciate O'Sé's importance I think this is a little OTT. Kerry will fill the hole.
Dónal Óg switching codes and counties?
Well done Dara on a great career - always a player for the big day.
One of the greats, he'll be missed.
Quote from: Maiden1 on February 17, 2010, 01:29:21 PM
O' Se, Walsh and Kinnelly all leaving the Kerry panel in one go, surely that must set them back a bit for a year or 2.
Just don't let your guard down. Cute hoors.
What can be said about Darragh that hasn't been already. Truely great player. I don't think you can replace a Darragh O'Sé much like we found we couldn't replace John McDermott (not comparing the two before anyone starts), but Kerry are a team that can cope better than most. He was from the same mould of the older Kerry greats and the 10+ years are littered with images of him plucking the O'Neills from the clouds.
Good luck to him. A great player
One of the all-time greats, no question about that. An fair play to him for announcing his retirement on An Saol ó Dheas. Dílis go deo lena mhuintir agus a áit dúchais.
I know that Kerry have richer player pickings than most counties but a man like that doesn't come along every day. Good luck to him in his retirement, we'll all miss watching him play.
Great player indeed! A massive loss to Kerry and a genuine legend of the modern game!
Wish him well in his retirement. Fifteen years at inter county level (and at the "business end" of inter county football) is some feat in the modern era. Fantastic player but if one county can replace him it's those hoors in Kerry ;)
I wouldn't be surprised this summer if Kerry are under pressure in a qualifier against Louth to see him appear on the sideline wearing no 31!
Legend....I remember reading somewhere that he has had about 13 different midfield partners during his career....he was the best of the lot!!
6 Senior All-Ireland medals, 4 League medals, 9 Munster C'ship medals.
Played in 15 All-Ireland semi-finals.
That's some going.
Best of luck in retirement. I've spent hundreds of hours watching him in the green and gold. The privilege was all mine.
Sad to see the legendary Darragh hang them up. what a player and was a joy to watch. A truely great player and the greatest midfielder ive ever witnessed.
A great player, great athlete and will be sorely missed in the green and gold, but a poor mans Anthony Tohill never the less.
Quote from: blanketattack on February 17, 2010, 04:42:50 PM
6 Senior All-Ireland medals, 4 League medals, 9 Munster C'ship medals.
Played in 15 All-Ireland semi-finals.
That's some going.
Best of luck in retirement. I've spent hundreds of hours watching him in the green and gold. The privilege was all mine.
he must have won 3 or 4 Allstars in his career as well, great player, Kerry will have other filling his boots
Quote from: Puckoon on February 17, 2010, 07:30:46 PM
A great player, great athlete and will be sorely missed in the green and gold, but a poor mans Anthony Tohill never the less.
;D ;D oh jaysus here we go!!
Quote from: Celt_Man on February 17, 2010, 07:57:50 PM
Quote from: Puckoon on February 17, 2010, 07:30:46 PM
A great player, great athlete and will be sorely missed in the green and gold, but a poor mans Anthony Tohill never the less.
;D ;D oh jaysus here we go!!
[/quote
I was going to say a poor mans Paul Mc Grane
A player I always liked. A decent grafter.
Fair play to the big man. He had a great innings with the Kingdom and deserves his elevated status in the game, and I think the fact that he is getting a lot of praise on this board says a lot, given the usual stirring and ball hopping that goes on here.
He's another that never really courted the media, but he always came across well when interviewed, never really bitched about losing and gave credit to teams who beat his Kerry team.
Above all that, he showed the patience of Job, and the restraint of a Saint when he didn't take Pat Kenny for an aeriel tour of Montrose when he was trying to get a reaction by showing him the Dooher photo that time.
Maith thu Darragh.
A truly great player
One of the last of a dying breed - An fear láidir
Thanks for the memories Darragh
A massive player and great career. Was surprised to hear he was only awarded three All Stars. Always gave his all against Tyrone in the championship... it wasn't enough but he gave everything 8)
Fair play to Darragh - a true legend of the game. How many tyrone players are there with 6 AI senior medals ? Hmmmmmm - let me see ......................?
Quote from: comethekingdom on February 17, 2010, 09:21:10 PM
Fair play to Darragh - a true legend of the game. How many tyrone players are there with 6 AI senior medals ? Hmmmmmm - let me see ......................?
Dooher and McMenamin?
2 under 21 all Ireland's as well lads. some man for one man. mike McCarthy's pulling the plug as well according to rte radio at lunchtime. alot of the new lads don't seem to be blessed with darraghs physique transition beckons. did darragh play for ireland in compromise rules? i think he did seem to remember him with the coke jersey on???
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on February 17, 2010, 09:01:22 PM
One of the last of a dying breed - An fear láidir
My thoughts exactly. To be fair, given the direction of the game in the modern era we may never see another.
Quote from: blanketattack on February 17, 2010, 04:42:50 PM
6 Senior All-Ireland medals, 4 League medals, 9 Munster C'ship medals.
Played in 15 All-Ireland semi-finals.
That's some going.
Best of luck in retirement. I've spent hundreds of hours watching him in the green and gold. The privilege was all mine.
Is that all senior level?
Quote from: comethekingdom on February 17, 2010, 09:21:10 PM
Fair play to Darragh - a true legend of the game. How many tyrone players are there with 6 AI senior medals ? Hmmmmmm - let me see ......................?
Just winding you man. It would be churlish not to acknowledge Darragh's career and of course he is an all time great. It is surprisng though he just got three All Stars. He deserved far more.
An outstanding player, probably as good as Kevin Walsh in his prime.
who is Kevin Walsh ?
Quote from: muscles magoo on February 17, 2010, 08:40:36 PM
A player I always liked. A decent grafter.
Tidy dig Muscles. Nice one. ;)
One of the greatest players in the history of the game,He had every conceiveable skill a midfielder could need,terrific engine,a very good ball carrier,good score taker,terrific strength,not to mention alongside Tohill,IMO the best exponent of the high catch in the modern era.
It will be a strange sight seeing Kerry this year without Darragh as alot of us have grown up watching him give exhibition after exhibition in Croker.
Quote from: lawnseed on February 17, 2010, 09:50:20 PM
2 under 21 all Ireland's as well lads. some man for one man. mike McCarthy's pulling the plug as well according to rte radio at lunchtime. alot of the new lads don't seem to be blessed with darraghs physique transition beckons. did darragh play for ireland in compromise rules? i think he did seem to remember him with the coke jersey on???
(http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked/Library/SF88/101028.jpg)
Quote from: IolarCoisCuain on February 17, 2010, 11:01:22 PM
Quote from: muscles magoo on February 17, 2010, 08:40:36 PM
A player I always liked. A decent grafter.
Tidy dig Muscles. Nice one. ;)
Childish, but it would have been remiss of me to let it pass...
He was a man in the game - a rare specimen these days.
I too was amazed to realise he only has three All-Stars. I can't imagine that in three separate years when Kerry were champions there were two better midfielders in the country.
A mighty man.
A few gaaboard memories:
Humphries 2007
http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?PHPSESSID=4f8df3a358ec9a19e1dfcec67ce5728b&topic=2787.0
Stats from last summer
http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=13257.0
He has retired like an undefeated champion. In his last season he was used selectively with purpose and effect by Kerry but in all probability the signs were there that it would be his last season at the top.
A classic midfielder who was the constant inspiration in the great Kerry teams over the past 15 years.
Quote from: Hardy on February 18, 2010, 10:04:57 AM
He was a man in the game - a rare specimen these days.
I too was amazed to realise he only has three All-Stars. I can't imagine that in three separate years when Kerry were champions there were two better midfielders in the country.
Four.
Quote from: AFS on February 18, 2010, 10:15:53 AM
Quote from: Hardy on February 18, 2010, 10:04:57 AM
He was a man in the game - a rare specimen these days.
I too was amazed to realise he only has three All-Stars. I can't imagine that in three separate years when Kerry were champions there were two better midfielders in the country.
Four.
RTÉ credited him with 3 last night too.
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 18, 2010, 10:49:33 AM
Quote from: AFS on February 18, 2010, 10:15:53 AM
Quote from: Hardy on February 18, 2010, 10:04:57 AM
He was a man in the game - a rare specimen these days.
I too was amazed to realise he only has three All-Stars. I can't imagine that in three separate years when Kerry were champions there were two better midfielders in the country.
Four.
RTÉ credited him with 3 last night too.
Numpties. Probably going off wikipedia, which has it wrong too.
2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007.
Quote from: AFS on February 18, 2010, 10:59:03 AM
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 18, 2010, 10:49:33 AM
Quote from: AFS on February 18, 2010, 10:15:53 AM
Quote from: Hardy on February 18, 2010, 10:04:57 AM
He was a man in the game - a rare specimen these days.
I too was amazed to realise he only has three All-Stars. I can't imagine that in three separate years when Kerry were champions there were two better midfielders in the country.
Four.
RTÉ credited him with 3 last night too.
Numpties. Probably going off wikipedia, which has it wrong too.
2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007.
Mad that the State broadcaster can't get their facts right
The Irish Times - Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sticking in there through good and bad times
Heart of the Kingdom beats dignified retreat after 16 well-storied seasons.KERRY FOOTBALL RETIREMENT OF DARRAGH Ó SÉ: Beneath Ó Sé's easy going surface there is a doggedness and a will which equipped him well for the long haul, writes TOM HUMPHRIES
THIS MORNING in the coffee shop of a hotel in Tralee Darragh Ó Sé will most likely be found for a while in the company of Mikey Sheehy and a handful of All-Ireland medallists from various eras of Kerry's footballing past. They'll be sipping tea or coffee, crumbling scones for the buttering and happily cutting each other to pieces with blades and shafts of wit. Ó Sé will get a special going over as his companions trawl through his obituaries looking for material.
It's a college of serious football talk where nobody takes themselves seriously. If you wanted an example of what makes Kerry football different from football just about anywhere else an hour of earwigging would suffice. Wearing a Kerry jersey or having enough medals to give as gifts to everyone of your close family guarantees you no celebrity in Kerry. You take your football seriously. Yourself not seriously at all. And you will be fine.
If you had to bet you would say they will start the dismantling of Ó Sé this morning with the business of there having been any announcement at all. Somebody will glance up from a paper and say 'Hey, Darragh, it says here you are retiring. Yerra, I thought you were gone years ago'.
And Darragh will laugh. Perhaps one of the most surprising things about Darragh Ó Sé's surprising career is he actually announced it had all come to an end. He joked often that he would retire whenever his friend Maurice Fitzgerald retired. Maurice is long gone but not officially retired. Darragh has beaten him to the punch just when it seemed possible that he might have enough fuel in the tank and enough sense of his own capacity to hang on forever, making briefer but ever more influential appearances every year.
Darragh Ó Sé has always been about surprise, though. Small for a modern midfielder and burdened by having an uncle from whose shadow it would seem impossible to emerge, there was very little excitement about his championship debut back in 1994.
The emergence of what looked like a moderate midfielder, albeit one with a famous name wasn't something which instantly suggested the end of famine in Kerry back then.
Beneath Ó Sé's easy-going surface, however, there is a doggedness and a will which equipped him well for the long haul. His 15-year career would make him one of those icons for whom the Christian name is sufficient for recognition, bring him an unlikely haul of six All-Ireland medals, and leave him with a reputation that makes him head and shoulders the best midfielder since Jack O'Shea or Brian Mullins roamed the land.
He achieved all that in a game which had become increasingly attritional as the years went past. He achieved it while appearing to whistle a happy tune as he worked. There was always time to smell the roses and have the fun.
The good days were too many to enumerate. Easier to skip a stone over the bad ones. The All-Ireland club final of 2004 when Gaeltacht succumbed to Caltra with Darragh as captain was a day which hurt him deeply.
He has always played for club and county with a deep and respectful sense of where he is from. That would have been a day of days.
That March afternoon, an All-Ireland carelessly lost to Armagh in 2002, a humiliation at the hands of Meath in 2001 and the small sheaf of failures to Tyrone, those would be the bad days and even they did little to subtract from the fun he got from it all. Horses fun, as his friend Mikey Sheehy would often say.
He was old school. As a succession of managers tended to the Kerry team through the appliance of science, Darragh clung to the belief that the green and gold jersey was sufficient motivation for anybody and the sight of the green and gold jersey in full flight just "upped the dosage" for any opposition side. The scientific exploration would continue and Darragh would happily set about breaking the "carraigs" of the manager concerned.
That confident sense of difference created a useful energy in its own way. On training nights in Killarney the Irish speaking players and those close to them created the nucleus to the team and drove the others on with a mix of goading and encouragement.
"You have to believe you will start," he said of last summer when his slow return to county action after the league led most to believe that he wouldn't be starting.
"Training is no good unless you believe that. The same as the fellas I compete with for the place. They have to believe they will start. And that makes for good football. For aggressiveness and physical play and that brings the team on.
"There is a bond there. You know you wouldn't be where you are but for those players who push you on. There is a fierce competitiveness there between you as individuals but at the same time there is a bond because you know that by competing as hard as you can with each other you make the team better."
That has been the philosophy which has driven Darragh Ó Sé on through the thick and the thin, seen him outlast famine and controversy and a succession of midfield partners.
Took the lumps, gave the lumps and walks away with an All-Ireland medal still warm in his pocket.
The end of an era. He wouldn't let that be said though.
"Listen, they won't be retiring the jersey. It's there for the next fella."
He retires to the pantheon with all the other gods of the game. Definitely a warrior you would love to have on your side as you head into battle.
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 18, 2010, 11:59:16 AM
THIS MORNING in the coffee shop of a hotel in Tralee Darragh Ó Sé will most likely be found for a while in the company of Mikey Sheehy and a handful of All-Ireland medallists from various eras of Kerry's footballing past. They'll be sipping tea or coffee, crumbling scones for the buttering and happily cutting each other to pieces with blades and shafts of wit.
Do any of these Kerry hoors work?
Sitting in the coffee shop having the craic with the lads FFS
Jammy b4stards
Quote from: full back on February 18, 2010, 12:59:07 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 18, 2010, 11:59:16 AM
THIS MORNING in the coffee shop of a hotel in Tralee Darragh Ó Sé will most likely be found for a while in the company of Mikey Sheehy and a handful of All-Ireland medallists from various eras of Kerry's footballing past. They'll be sipping tea or coffee, crumbling scones for the buttering and happily cutting each other to pieces with blades and shafts of wit.
Do any of these Kerry hoors work?
Sitting in the coffee shop having the craic with the lads FFS
Jammy b4stards
Have to agree Full back....a few years ago I went into Charlie Nelligans in Tralee one Monday morning for the breakfast and there was himself, Ger Power and Ogie sitting having the crack.....they have a great time to themselves alright.
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 18, 2010, 01:01:38 PM
Quote from: full back on February 18, 2010, 12:59:07 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 18, 2010, 11:59:16 AM
THIS MORNING in the coffee shop of a hotel in Tralee Darragh Ó Sé will most likely be found for a while in the company of Mikey Sheehy and a handful of All-Ireland medallists from various eras of Kerry's footballing past. They'll be sipping tea or coffee, crumbling scones for the buttering and happily cutting each other to pieces with blades and shafts of wit.
Do any of these Kerry hoors work?
Sitting in the coffee shop having the craic with the lads FFS
Jammy b4stards
Have to agree Full back....a few years ago I went into Charlie Nelligans in Tralee one Monday morning for the breakfast and there was himself, Ger Power and Ogie sitting having the crack.....they have a great time to themselves alright.
Maybe there is something behind it all
I mind in the 90's Ross, DJ or a few of the Down lads would always be knocking about the town.
Not many Down ones floating about now though 5 Sams ;)
Quote from: Doogie Browser on February 18, 2010, 10:49:33 AM
Quote from: AFS on February 18, 2010, 10:15:53 AM
Quote from: Hardy on February 18, 2010, 10:04:57 AM
He was a man in the game - a rare specimen these days.
I too was amazed to realise he only has three All-Stars. I can't imagine that in three separate years when Kerry were champions there were two better midfielders in the country.
Four.
RTÉ credited him with 3 last night too.
I should have known better. After all, these are the people who bring you Aertel. And Marty Morrissey. I could get rolling now, but I'll stop.
Quote from: full back on February 18, 2010, 01:15:52 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 18, 2010, 01:01:38 PM
Quote from: full back on February 18, 2010, 12:59:07 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on February 18, 2010, 11:59:16 AM
THIS MORNING in the coffee shop of a hotel in Tralee Darragh Ó Sé will most likely be found for a while in the company of Mikey Sheehy and a handful of All-Ireland medallists from various eras of Kerry's footballing past. They'll be sipping tea or coffee, crumbling scones for the buttering and happily cutting each other to pieces with blades and shafts of wit.
Do any of these Kerry hoors work?
Sitting in the coffee shop having the craic with the lads FFS
Jammy b4stards
Have to agree Full back....a few years ago I went into Charlie Nelligans in Tralee one Monday morning for the breakfast and there was himself, Ger Power and Ogie sitting having the crack.....they have a great time to themselves alright.
Maybe there is something behind it all
I mind in the 90's Ross, DJ or a few of the Down lads would always be knocking about the town.
Not many Down ones floating about now though 5 Sams ;)
It would be the Canal Court on a Saturday night now Full back....and I dont mean the gym ;)
A true legend and would have been regarded as so in any era of the game. As Hardy said a real man, tough as fcuk but adorned with all the skills of the game. The considerable honours he achieved only tell half the story.
Quote from: magpie seanie on February 18, 2010, 02:09:49 PM
A true legend and would have been regarded as so in any era of the game. As Hardy said a real man, tough as fcuk but adorned with all the skills of the game. The considerable honours he achieved only tell half the story.
No doubt.
He played some ball for Kerry and gave us some entertainment.
As they rightly say, you'll never miss the water till the well runs dry !
He looks a bit different now than when he first broke onto the Kerry team...
(http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked/Library/SF3/002452.jpg)
Quote from: blanketattack on February 18, 2010, 04:24:42 PM
He looks a bit different now than when he first broke onto the Kerry team...
(http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked/Library/SF3/002452.jpg)
Yeh 15 years younger and about 2 stone lighter by the looks of it.
An awful horse of a man.
'Small for a modern midfielder'
Is Humphries making any sense here?
First is Dara not 6'2" and about 15 stone? We're not talking about the NBA here, that's a fair size of a man in GAA no??
Second he implies that 'modern' midfielders are bigger, would it not be the opposite case that they are generally getting smaller and more mobile?
Quote from: BallyhaiseMan on February 18, 2010, 04:31:18 PM
Quote from: blanketattack on February 18, 2010, 04:24:42 PM
He looks a bit different now than when he first broke onto the Kerry team...
(http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked/Library/SF3/002452.jpg)
Yeh 15 years younger and about 2 stone lighter by the looks of it.
An awful horse of a man.
He looks like he is about 14 in that photo!!
Quote from: tyssam5 on February 18, 2010, 05:02:12 PM
'Small for a modern midfielder'
Is Humphries making any sense here?
First is Dara not 6'2" and about 15 stone? We're not talking about the NBA here, that's a fair size of a man in GAA no??
Second he implies that 'modern' midfielders are bigger, would it not be the opposite case that they are generally getting smaller and more mobile?
I suppose the 'fielding' midfielders like Nicholas Murphy, Michael Quirke and co are a bit bigger than 6' 2''. But there are a lot more midfielders that are more runners than fielders these days.
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 18, 2010, 05:06:29 PM
Quote from: tyssam5 on February 18, 2010, 05:02:12 PM
'Small for a modern midfielder'
Is Humphries making any sense here?
First is Dara not 6'2" and about 15 stone? We're not talking about the NBA here, that's a fair size of a man in GAA no??
Second he implies that 'modern' midfielders are bigger, would it not be the opposite case that they are generally getting smaller and more mobile?
I suppose the 'fielding' midfielders like Nicholas Murphy, Michael Quirke and co are a bit bigger than 6' 2''. But there are a lot more midfielders that are more runners than fielders these days.
Aye or athletes rather than footballers...
it's a pet peeve of mine boys going on about a fella saying he is a good footballer and all he does is run and couldn't kick a ball out of his way!!
i knew this day was coming but its hard to believe darragh will never run out in fitzgearlds stadium again, his contribution to kerry will be sorely missed this summer and if were not collecting sam in sept yesterday will be the day i'll look back on. right up there with mick o connell and jack o shea in kerry football lore. i love his comment in todays times 'listen they wont be retiring the jersey, its there for the next fella'. says it all about the man, hard as a rock when needed yet humble to the very end. thanks for the great times darragh
QuoteWalsh fears that Ó Sé will be the last of the breed
Twice All-Ireland SFC-winning midfielder Kevin Walsh (Galway) says the GAA may not see the likes of retired Kerry star Darragh Ó Sé again.
Walsh has joined with the many in saluting the Kingdom midfielder on his retirement from intercounty fare, claiming that Ó Sé possessed "all the aspects of the game needed" by a majestic midfielder.
However Walsh is sceptical of seeing the sort of adequate replacement coming through that one would hope would emerge.
"Football has struggled in the last six or seven years for midfielders," Walsh told the Irish Examiner. "Before that you had six or seven lads on a level, the likes of Darragh, Paul McGrane, John McDermott, Anthony Tohill and Ciaran Whelan.
"But over the last seven years or so things haven't been that strong. People will say players like Darragh Ó Sé are few and far between and that's correct but there's more to it than that.
"Football is changing around midfield and you're just not getting the Darragh Ó Sé's coming through now.
Sad to see him go, one hell of a player. Could mix the fancy with the rough (and I mean that as the ultimate compliment). Kerrys go to man for so long. But if there's one county can replace him its the cute hoor county. A great winner but always gracious in defeat. I remember the interview he gave rte after the 2002 all ireland , you could see the hurt on his face but no excuses , took it on the chin. Legend and a boy you'd love to have a feed of pints with :-)
Thanks Darragh for a fantastic career in the Kerry jersey.
http://pix.ie/mipix/album/369288 (http://pix.ie/mipix/album/369288) A few pics from All Ireland final day 2009
We have been blessed in Kerry with great midfielders over the decades and Darragh's name will shine brightly amoungst any of them.
The 1920's gave us the legends that were Bob Stack and Con Brosnan in Midfield
The 1930's gave us Miko Doyle and Johnny Walsh
The 40's had Paddy Kennedy and a list of supporting players in Midfield
The 50's gave us John Dowling and a young lad from Valentia
In the 60's the great Mick O'Connell took centrefield by storm supported by host of great names
In the 70's we started out with Micko and DJ Crowley, then Paudie Lynch & John O'Keeffe took up the batton before passing it on to two young bucks Jack O'Shea and Sean Walsh.
The early to mid 80's were all about Jacko with help from Seanie and Ambrose.
90's had a handful of players filling the midfield berths until a young O'Se came along from An Gaeltacht
The 00's were all about Darragh ably supported by William Kirby, Donal Daly and Seamus Scanlon
The 10's: who will be the next Great Kerry Midfield General to step into these shoes of giants
Great memories of a great footballer and a nice guy too off the field. Enjoy the retirement.
Great athlete. Great career.
Very good thread.
As fine a midfielder as I ever saw and someone that you should ask any young midfielder to model themselves on. I don't think the obituaries for this type of footballer are warranted, the game goes through cycles but at the bakc of it all the easiest way to win is to have 2-3 big men around the midfield who can win primary possession and feed it into your forward line fast. This will always be the case and whose to say that Donaghy won't become a midfield legend now, or some other young buck from Kerry or elsehwere.
Enjoy the retirement big man, well deserved.
Quote from: Kerry Mike on February 18, 2010, 09:57:14 PM
Thanks Darragh for a fantastic career in the Kerry jersey.
http://pix.ie/mipix/album/369288 (http://pix.ie/mipix/album/369288) A few pics from All Ireland final day 2009
We have been blessed in Kerry with great midfielders over the decades and Darragh's name will shine brightly amoungst any of them.
The 1920's gave us the legends that were Bob Stack and Con Brosnan in Midfield
The 1930's gave us Miko Doyle and Johnny Walsh
The 40's had Paddy Kennedy and a list of supporting players in Midfield
The 50's gave us John Dowling and a young lad from Valentia
In the 60's the great Mick O'Connell took centrefield by storm supported by host of great names
In the 70's we started out with Micko and DJ Crowley, then Paudie Lynch & John O'Keeffe took up the batton before passing it on to two young bucks Jack O'Shea and Sean Walsh.
The early to mid 80's were all about Jacko with help from Seanie and Ambrose.
90's had a handful of players filling the midfield berths until a young O'Se came along from An Gaeltacht
The 00's were all about Darragh ably supported by William Kirby, Donal Daly and Seamus Scanlon
The 10's: who will be the next Great Kerry Midfield General to step into these shoes of giants
Great memories of a great footballer and a nice guy too off the field. Enjoy the retirement.
Thanks for the memories .a great career
I first came across O Shea when he cleaned out Dermot McCabe in 96 All Ireland U21 semi. He's been at the top of the game ever since and has 6 AI medals. A tremendous servant for Kerry and a great player. He deserves a break!
a true legend hope he enjoys his retirement . spent a great night in his company many years ago with himself and Thomas down in his uncles pub in Ventry, as nice a fella that you could meet.
How could any man be okay after being told facts of life by his Uncle Paidi'
Saturday February 20 2010
Darragh O Se was four. He was with his dad Mick and they were walking past McKenna's Corner in Listowel. I called my father to the window of the pub.
"Who does Mick's young lad remind of you of Dad?"
"He has the 'gache' of Paidi," he said in an instant.
And we got a fierce fit of laughing. Then Dad said: "Look at him, look at him. He's like he was marching behind the Artane Boys Band."
Thirty years later we wished Darragh the best on his retirement and then asked how he was bearing up.
There was a boyish lilt in his voice. Relief almost. It was as if he tossed the satchel off his back for the last time on the day exams finished. It can't have been easy carrying a county"s expectations on your shoulders for 13 years.
"How could I be alright?" he laughs.
"How could any man be okay after being told the facts of life by his Uncle Paidi?"
Jokes
He doesn't give away too much. Jokes hide what's going on inside.
When he came on the scene Darragh was conscious of the fact that Uncle Pa, as he calls him, was his manager. The 19-year-old midfielder knew a losing Kerry coach had the longevity of a mayfly.
There were some who said Darragh was only on the team because he was the manager's nephew. Pressure already -- and more when Mayo beat us well in 1996. Paidi knew his man, though. After all he trained him for Croke Park from the time he was kicking off the blankets in his cot.
Darragh didn't say too much at the team meetings that year. It was like being the teacher's son. You didn't put your hand up for fear of embarrassing the both of ye.
Jack O'Connor said it was Darragh's lack of fear that inspired his team-mates more than anything else, but he had his worries before the '97 final. Darragh cut loose. He went from a boy to a man and conquered his inner doubts.
The young O Se was a graduate of the St Brendan's College school of Gaelic football where the emphasis was on skill and sportsmanship. You never hit an opponent. Football beat them, but Darragh was targeted.
If you stopped Darragh O Se, you stopped Kerry.
Bit by bit, he became more belligerent. If you wanted to play football -- fine --but if you didn't, that was fine too.
Some complain about his physicality, but ye who knock him now made him what he is. For years Kerry players were given no protection from the officials. What did ye expect us to do? Sit back and take it?
The players understand him. Nicholas Murphy is a friend. Darragh and Ciaran Whelan had some savage battles, but O Se felt for his pal when he retired without an All-Ireland medal.
Whelan often matched him, as did Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh and the underrated Murphy on occasion, but none lasted longer or won more.
O Se's home is at the foot of Sliabh an Iolar, Mount Eagle.
It's a place to see while you're still able for the climb. There's a marsupial lake half way up a mountain that changes colour and shade with every passing cloud. Rest there for a while.
Listen to the music of the silence and baptise the soles of your shoes in the gently lapping waters.
The view from the top looks back west out over Ballyferriter and to the Blaskets, with the Sceilig a day's rowing to the south west.
This was the shortcut the islanders took on their way to Dingle. For many, it was their last sight of home. Their hearts must have been broken.
To understand the O Ses, you must go to this place. They love where they come from and they speak a language more expressive and beautiful than any. It is a land and a culture worth fighting for. Football is one of the sources of that fierce pride.
Darragh is a Listowel man too and he came to coach our U-10s. Publicly he only shows what's going on in his inner sanctum when he's with the kids.
"Darragh," confided a small boy in a whisper short of a tear, "I'm only a sub."
Darragh went down on his heels. "Don't mind that," he said gently. "I couldn't get on the Gaeltacht under-age teams. Play away and keep at it. Don't give up." There was a few more minutes of chat. And then they had a few kicks.
He's very much himself at home with the lovely Amy and their little baby, but I think he'll miss the banter at training and the challenge of the big days out.
Comeback
Yesterday we met with Ger Power in Tralee -- he still looks like he could play in a boy band. Darragh pulled over. "Powery, I"m thinking of making a comeback."
Powery laughs.
An impatient taxi man beeps.
Two young lads shout: "Hey boy, that's Darragh O Se you're beepin' at."
Darragh drives on.
One of the young lads nods towards Powery, who, in an instant, is half-way up Castle Street, "whose your man?" he asks. "I kind of know him."
"Ger Power", I reply, annoyed. "He only won eight Sams".
That's Kerry. There are many greats and far more saints than Pattern Days. Retirement isn't easy. Some 13 years of a footballing life is over and for good. Football, rightly, is all about the here and now.
Then again Darragh never took himself too seriously.
It was this night last week at the St Michael's College 130th celebrations here in Listowel. Eric Browne, Owen and Bryan McMahon were picking their greatest team of all time.
"Did you make it?" I asked Darragh.
"Just about."
"Are you coming back into the function room?"
He rubs under his jaw with the back of his hand as if he's giving the invitation serious thought.
"No. I think I'll stay for a while longer. I'm afraid if I get outa here, I'll be dropped."
No fear of that, Darragh. You're on for good.
Irish Independent
Read it.
The usual load of c**k from Mr "I'm tryin to copy my dad & I'm best friends with everyone that's famous in Kerry" Keane.
(I see he had dropped "Our Tadgh" as his favourite topic).
No reflection on Dara though. Great footballer. Man's man. Best of luck to him in his retirement.
Ó SÉ THE END OF AN ERA - By Weeshie Fogarty
Ó SÉ THE END OF AN ERA
By Weeshie Fogarty
I have been watching Kerry footballers in action since my first All Ireland final in 1955 and in that time Kerry have produced some of the greatest mid fielders the game has ever seen.
Many men have worn the number 8 and 9 jerseys since that memorable year when Kerry won their 18th All Ireland title and their 39th Munster title include the following legends:
John Dowling, Denny O'Shea, Jer D O'Connor, Jimmy Lucy, Mick Fleming (Currow), Din Joe Crowley, Johnno O' Keeffe, Pat McCarthy, Paudie Lynch, Sean Walsh, Vincent O'Connor, Ambrose O' Donovan, Noel O'Mahoney, Donal Daly, William Kirby, Michael Quirke, and Connor Kearney. There were others of course who were chosen in the middle of the field for just a few games when necessity arose however not being "Natural" midfielders they soon returned to their more adaptable positions on the team.
While in my personal opinion it is impossible to determine who was the greatest of all it is easy enough to state that the three greatest midfielders I have seen since 1955, and I have seen them all, were without argument Mick O' Connell, Jack O' Shea and now as he retires from the game he has graced so magnificently Darragh Ó Sé who joins these two Kerry midfield giants as one of the greatest I have ever seen.
While it is a very dangerous statement to make in relation to Kerry football, I firmly believe we will never see his likes again in a Kerry jersey. Ó Sé has set a record that will never be equaled.
81 championship appearances, all in the same centre field position and 77 as a starter. Now 34 years of age Darragh has made more championship appearance than any other player in the history of the game. He began away back in 1994 against Limerick in Killarney scoring one point. Noel o Mahoney was his partner and Kerry won 2=19 to 0-8. He would go on and hold the most onerous of positions in any field sport and not alone that but you would have to really think very deeply before you could say that "Darragh was very poor today".
So what made Darragh Ó Sé such a magnificent mid-fielder? Well first of all he had the breeding and as the old adage says "an ounce of breeding is worth a ton of feeding". He fielding of the ball high in the air was immaculate and a joy to behold. To see him rising high over friend and foe in Croke Park and other venues brought joy to the heart. He was big, strong, always in superb physical condition and looked after his body as would a professional sportsman. He had tremendous vision and as his career unfolded his foot kicking and passing became near perfect. And also and most importantly Darragh had the temperament for the big occasion. Without this, performing to ones greatest ability on the big stage on the biggest day of all would be impossible.
So what was his greatest performance ever? For once I am stumped. Watching him playing with his club since I first saw him against my own Killarney Legion under 14s many moons a go I have seen too many memorable displays from the Gaeltaght star to single out on apart from all others. I fear he is the end of a dying breed. The majestic high fielder. The game has changed beyond all recognition. Now it's a case of swarming, fouling and stop the opposition from scoring. In many ways Darragh is lucky to be getting out as the game deteriorates further.
He has left us a legacy of wonderful memories. We thank him sincerely for that. We wish him his wife and family all the best as they enjoy more time together. One last near unsolvable problem for me and I leave it to the readers to decide, if that is humanly possible. Mick O' Connell, Jack O' Shea and Darragh Ó Sé. My three greatest of all midfielders. But who are the two you would like to have on your own little club team???
Darragh Ó Sé played championship football for Kerry from 1994-2009 scoring 1-31 in 81 appearances.
And while all the media focus has been on those championship appearances let's not forget the he played 96 league games for Kerry and had 18 different partners. He scored 1-31 in the league for Kerry while he played 14 times for the Kerry under 21 scoring 6 points and he also played once for the Kerry minors scoring one point. So in his glittering inter county career now at an end Darragh wore the Green and Gold on 192 magnificent occasions.
So a huge buíochas to him 'laoch den scoth' he gave us immense enjoyment. Gach dea ghuidhe leis 'sna blianta as seo amach.
Weeshie Fogarty 18th February 2010