Kerry legend O Sé calls it a day

CHAMPIONS Kerry could begin the defence of their All-Ireland football title without one-third of the starting 15 from last September’s victory, but nowhere will the deficit be more pronounced than in the midfield area patrolled for the last 16 years by Darragh O Sé.

The Gaeltacht legend announced his retirement from inter-county football yesterday after 81 Championship appearances, all in the same centre-field position, and 77 as a starter. O Sé (34) made more Championship appearances than any other player in the history of the game, kicking off in 1994 against Limerick in Killarney alongside Kerins O’Rahillys’ Noel O’Mahony – the first of 13 engine room partners for the Kingdom.

Though the announcement – delivered in typically low-key fashion to his friend and colleague Dara O Cinnéide on Radio na Gaeltachta – was anticipated, it further underlines the task facing Jack O’Connor and the Kerry management team in 2010.