Tomás follows in footsteps of giants

PÁIDÍ Ó SÉ won a record equalling eight All-Ireland senior medals, played in a further two All-Ireland finals, and in those 10 games, conceded a total of one point to his immediate opponent.

He was the toughest, fittest, hardest, meanest, proudest defender in the business, and this fact was officially recognised at the time with the awarding of five consecutive Allstars, to go with the All-Ireland gongs.

Heady days, and when the publican from Ventry finally went out to grass in the late 80s, there was a collective sigh of relief from wing and corner forwards all over the country. Surely, they thought, there will never be his like again.