WAS he expecting it? Certainly not.

TWELVE months on and Tomás Mac an tSaoir still shakes his head at the memories of the devastation.

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor has described the decision of goalkeeper Diarmuid Murphy to retire from inter-county action as leaving a "huge void" after the Dingle native confirmed his decision to retire last night.

DIARMUID MURPHY’S timely interventions in helping secure a 36th All-Ireland title for Kerry weren’t just critical – they were his last as the Kingdom’s No 1.

The focus of the latest Cork-Kerry clash will undoubtedly be on David Moran and Tommy Walsh, the senior stars who already have U21 All-Ireland medals in their collection.