HE retires with five All-Irelands, three Allstars, a Footballer of the Year award and a joint-record number of appearances, but Marc Ó Sé rates a win over Armagh among his best memories in a Kerry jersey.
The 36-year-old An Gaeltacht defender yesterday announced that, after a 14-year senior career with his county, his 88th Championship appearance was his last in the green and gold.
Speaking to RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, he recalled the Kingdom’s quarter-final victory over Joe Kernan’s side, who had beaten them in the 2002 All-Ireland final.
Asked to recall his best memories, Ó Sé said: “The quarter final against Armagh in 2006. We had lost against Armagh in 2002, and it was very hard because Darragh was captain and he had been playing really well that year…
“The ones you lose, you always remember. Then when we got another chance against Armagh in 2006, we had a chance for revenge maybe. I don’t like to use that word, but maybe that day there was a bit of revenge. Darragh was unbelievable that day.”
He also revealed that, although he played in four losing All-Ireland finals, the deciders with Armagh in 2002 and Dublin in 2011 were the ones that hurt the most.
“They’re always on my mind, as if they happened yesterday.”
Ó Sé was named Footballer of the Year in 2007 and will go with the reputation of having been one of the game’s all-time greatest defenders.
He made a joint-record 88 Championship appearances for Kerry, matching the achievement of his brother Tomás. Marc’s retirement brings to an end a 19-year consecutive association for the Ó Sé brothers, beginning with Darragh in 1997.
A schoolteacher by profession, he collected ten Munster titles and three National Leagues during his prolific career, as well as Allstars in 2006, 2007 and 2011.
