‘I wanted to tell it like it is’

IT’S the afternoon after the launch of his autobiography and Dessie Farrell has swapped the dapper suit for sweats and trainers as he pulls up a chair in the GPA’s offices in Drumcondra.

The wall to his right is festooned with promo pictures of players drinking from bottles of Club Energise, but the picture that catches the eye is the A4 sized newspaper cut-out held up with tape.

It's the pre-match Dublin team photo prior to the 1995 All-Ireland final and, for Farrell, it captures emotions far beyond the obvious elation and satisfaction.