Aidan O’Shea warming to life after injury

Aidan O’Shea was 25 when forced to call time on his playing career.

The groin was no longer an issue, but the hips simply refused to play ball. There had been four surgeries, including a consultation in America. Months on end were spent on treatment tables, countless rehab programmes meticulously adhered to. Still, no joy. At 31, O’Shea now finds himself wearing the bainisteoir’s bib for his native Glenbeigh/Glencar. He’d never really considered management. Not this young, anyway. Indeed, were he fit and healthy, there is no question but that he’d be lining out at midfield in tomorrow’s Munster club JFC final.

He played with the vast majority of the team he now looks after, while himself, Daniel Murphy, Joe McGuillicuddy, Darran O’Sullivan and Fergal Griffin – the latter two are still going - were the five Glenbeigh/Glencar representatives on the starting Mid Kerry team which won the 2008 county championship.