Sport

Five-time All-Ireland winning Kerry legend hangs up the boots

Kerry defender Marc Ó Sé has announced his retirement from inter-county football.
Kerry defender Marc Ó Sé has announced his retirement from inter-county football. Kerry defender Marc Ó Sé has announced his retirement from inter-county football.

FORMER Footballer of the Year, three-times Allstars and five-times All-Ireland winner Marc Ó Sé has retired after a 16-year career with Kerry.

The An Ghaeltacht man made his Championship debut against Limerick in 2002, going on to make a record-equalling 88 Championship appearances for the Kingdom.

He shares that record with his brother Tomás, alongside whom and their elder sibling Darragh he soldiered for almost his entire inter-county career.

Ó Sé collected ten Munster titles and three National Leagues during his prolific career, and the 36-year-old will now continue to play for his club, with whom he won a Munster club title in 2003.

Renowned as a tight-marking corner-back, he won Footballer of the Year in 2007, and furthermore Allstars in 2006 and 2011.

In a statement released this afternoon, the decorated defender says playing for Kerry is something he will always cherish, but that he also expects to miss.

“If you told me as a child that I would go on and win All Ireland's with my heroes I would have said I was dreaming so to be able to do that has been one of the greatest thrills of my life. To play alongside some of the greatest players to ever play the game is something I will always cherish.

“I will continue to play football with my club An Ghaeltacht who have recently gained promotion to Division 1 of the County League and I look forward to playing with some exceptional young footballers in our great club.

“I wish the Kerry team all the best in the years ahead and I have no doubt that they will recapture Sam in the not too distant future.

Of course I will miss playing with Kerry, miss the craic and friendships with the lads and most of all miss those big days out in Croke Park but now I look forward to my future with my partner and my young family.

“After 16 years, it is time.”