'An incredible career that will never be matched'

In Kildare, he meant more than anywhere.

After Mick O’Dwyer ended a Leinster famine that made Richie Stakelum look like he’d merely skipped breakfast, Glenn Ryan sang into the microphone, and only then could the county-wide tour begin. On the Sunday night, O’Dwyer was on a stage in Naas. By Monday, he’d made it as far as Athy, reaching out and touching people’s hands as they fought for position in the square. Forget Jesus and Jerusalem, this was modern-day religion on an epic scale.

As a kid I witnessed Micko the legend, years later I got to meet Micko the man. After a Wicklow training session in Aughrim, we agreed to go for coffee locally but seeing people spilling out of a pub, he changed his mind and instead we went driving across the hills and into the county where football gave him the most satisfaction, even more so than in Kerry.