Race against time for Ó Sé
An x-ray yesterday revealed that the Allstar midfielder sustained a broken bone in his right foot following an accidental clash after 20 minutes of Sunday's semi-final win over Derry.
However, the Kingdom boss refused to say that the Munster champions would certainly be without their centre field giant as they bid for a League and championship double.
"It's hard to say at this stage, but he must be extremely doubtful," O'Connor admitted yesterday.
Ó Sé, an All-Ireland senior medal winner in 1997 and 2000, broke the metatarsal bone a small bone in his instep. Metatarsal fractures are common sports injuries, with David Beckham the most famous victim.
Rest and immobilisation are invariably necessary, with a recovery time of up to six weeks
recommended.
"It's a massive blow," said O'Connor. "Nobody would want to go into an All-Ireland final without a player of his calibre. He is our primary jumper at midfield and a great leader. He would be a massive loss."
The new Kerry manager has endured something of an injury nightmare since taking the helm, with a catalogue of incidents in club games and training robbing him of central players through the campaign.
"Seamus Moynihan has been out for a long time and Declan O'Sullivan was out of action for the guts of six weeks," he pointed out.
"We have had our setbacks, but we have been able to overcome them so far. However, it's all the more unfortunate in Darragh's case, for the reason that he was just hitting form at the right time. We felt his best football was yet to come."
Mayo boss John Maughan said he was genuinely sorry to hear the news.
"As a sportsman, I am very disappointed for Darragh. It's a bad blow. People will say it will help our chances, but Kerry have plenty of options. Eoin Brosnan is a damn good footballer and they will be able to play him there.
"They have huge potential. It would have been said that they could not survive without Seamus Moynihan, but yet they have got to an All-Ireland final without him," he added.
The Kerry injury jinx has also affected experienced midfielder Donal Daly, who broke a bone in his thumb in training and still has hand in plaster. On the credit side, Tommy Griffin has returned from injury and was one of the five substitutes used on Sunday.
And U21 player Paddy Kelly who partnered Ó Sé in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin and was also introduced on Sunday, is a further option.
However, the news is more positive for Seamus Moynihan, who is hoping he will be fit to face Mayo in a repeat of the 1997 decider. The former Footballer of the Year, who has not played since sustaining an ankle injury two months ago, is hoping to begin running later this week. Thereafter, only time will tell.
"I'm hoping to go back jogging (tonight), but I don't really know how it's going to react. I'll see how it goes. I have done nothing, just rested it.
"If I can get back, obviously I'm going to listen to the physio and the advice I am being given, and just do it very gradually. It's just an injury that has been very stubborn, one that I can't rush.
"I'm going to avail of the four weeks as best I can, get the best treatment I can and keep my fingers crossed that it will come good."
His sideline spell has given him a perfect vantage point to assess the Kerry team. The form of Mike McCarthy in Moynihan's old full-back territory is what pleases him most.
"Mike had a great League campaign and he was just unfortunate for the two Limerick games, in that he was carrying a very serious knee injury. You'd have to give him credit for going out and playing because he was open to all kinds of criticism. When you play with an injury you are never going to be at full steam.
"You must also realise that Tom (O'Sullivan) and Marc (Ó Sé) are playing very well. They're helping to make his job easier.
"Derry got a handy goal on Sunday, but I thought the backs were very tight and didn't concede any easy frees."
* During Kerry's 'Golden Years' run under Mick O'Dwyer's management, Eoin Liston, Ger Power and Pat Spillane all missed All-Ireland finals through injury in the case of the latter two and appendicitis in Liston's case.
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