The Western Alliance

YOU almost take it for granted because of the uncle, but it will be some achievement for the O’Se brothers if they all play for Kerry in Sunday’s Munster Championship showdown with Cork.

IT WAS the forerunner to the Munster championship, in the days before even Brian Boru led Clare to their first All-Ireland title. A massive army from Cork invading the Kingdom of Kerry, came to a narrow mountain pass, probably Glenbeigh.

A couple of scouts ventured forward, to assess the defence of the enemy; shortly afterwards, one came racing back.

"Just one man", he reported, terror in his voice, "but a ferocious warrior", had demolished the other scout.

The Cork chieftain choose six of his best, sent them forward to take care of the lone defender. There was a great cacophony, a crashing of steel on armour, but shortly afterwards, one bedraggled survivor made his way back over the hill.

The others are destroyed, he gasped, this man is a giant, the most savage fighter we’ve ever faced.

"One hundred of my best!", the Cork chieftain commanded, and once more over the hill the intrepid warriors marched, a tight, disciplined, determined group.

Within minutes, most were on their way back, scattered, eyes wide in terror. "Go back, go back!", they screamed; "it’s a trap there’s two of ‘em!."

Ah, how little has changed over the centuries. From the mid 1970’s to the late 80’s, a time of great famine in Cork football, many a mighty army made its way westward, again to try and take the Kingdom of Kerry.

And again they were repelled, again and again. Slaughtered, scattered to all corners. Mightiest of those defenders was one Paidi O’Se;, a giant who became a legend even in the furthest corners of the land nay, the globe.

On Sunday, Cork make yet another attempt, thousands of the red hordes making their way to Killarney where another trap awaits. This time, there isn’t just a pair, there are three. The three brothers O’Se, led by the oldest and most powerful, Kerry team captain Darragh.

"He’s important to us, very important really", says middle brother, Tomas. "He’s a good fielder, very strong, very mobile, and that’s what you want. All the good midfielders are like that at the moment, and he’s one of those, that’s for sure, playing very well."

The last time Kerry were called on to defend their Munster crown, five weeks ago against Limerick, Darragh was missing with a hand injury. In his absence, the Limerick midfield thrived, and the Kingdom almost fell. Not this time, according to Tomas.

"He was a huge loss to us against Limerick, no matter what anyone says, but I’m sure he’ll be

alright for this one. You don’t want to miss the game against Cork."

Not if you’re a Kerryman. Youngest of the brothers is Marc, a bit of an unknown quantity in Cork, but the makings of yet another mighty defender, as Tomas explains. "He’s new to the team, came on the scene this year.

We had a great year with the club, won the championship, and that helped. He’s playing well, young, full of energy. When I’m playing, I don’t have to worry about him, he does his own thing. Hopefully, if he makes the team, he’ll have a good day out."

Oh, a trap alright. As Tomas says, Darragh is very much the leader, the lynchpin, of this Kerry side. He’s been there since 1994, a towering figure patrolling the length and breadth of the field for Kerry,

critical to their All Ireland success in 1997.

A year later, he was joined by Tomas, just a couple of years out of minor ranks. Raw he was, under a bit of pressure in his first year, but it didn’t take too long before he became a stalwart of this side, a bulwark of one of the meanest defences in the business.

"Things didn’t go so well for him in the beginning, but he’s come good since then", the gospel according to Marc.

"Wing back is his best spot, and he did well in 2000, in all the games." Did so well he won an All Star award, as Kerry battled their way to another All Ireland title.

"He’s a lot like Paidi there, the same style of play", added the youngest of the family.

"He’s strong, hard I suppose, likes to come forward, but sticky as well."

And what of young Marc himself? His captain speaks. "Mark is new on the scene, only played one or two league games.

He came on against Limerick in the championship, when Tomas was suspended; he’s played very well at club level, played very well so far in the league, but the championship is where it really counts, and ’twill be interesting to see what happens, if he’s picked against Cork.

Hopefully he’ll do the business there as well, but the one thing he had going for him was that he was very keen, that’s half the battle. He’s worked hard, he wants to make it, but it’s up to himself, the ball is in his court. I don’t think he’ll let Kerry down."

Sounds like a command. So, Marc and Tomas, sterling defenders, mighty Darragh, outstanding

midfielder. But how come there’s no forward among the O’Se brothers?

"Well I suppose you’re put where you’re picked, and that’s it. Maybe it’s a reflection on our kicking, I don’t know!", Tomas laughs. No class!, says Darragh.

"I don’t know, Paidi being a defender I suppose, that’s how we were seen. Fergal was a forward as a young fella alright, so was Tomas I don’t know, they just seemed to play better as backs."

Fergal? Turns out that, in the best tradition of all Irish sporting families, there’s a brother at home bigger, stronger, better than the rest, one who, if fate had been kinder, would have been standing in that gap before any of them.

"That’s what all the ould fellas on the wall reckon", says Tomas. Fergal O’Se is the oldest of the footballing brothers, a teacher now in Feoghanach, a couple of miles from his home place, nestled in awesome beauty between Mount Brandon and the Atlantic Ocean.

Won an U-12 title with An Ghaeltacht at the ripe old age of eight, went on to win every underage medal there was in Kerry. In 1991, at 17, with uncle Paidi in his final year, An Ghaeltacht won the West Kerry senior title, and the torch was passed on. Fergal was the only brother to play with the legend.

However, just as the summit was about to be scaled, came the tumble. Knee injury, the cruciate. Sidelined, shattered, everything on hold, and to rub salt in the wound, he could only watch as his club, following decades and decades of failure, finally won the novice and junior county titles. Made it back, but again, just as glory beckoned, disaster.

Early 1997, captain of his club, on the Kerry panel again, but did his ham-string in a club game against Annascaul. Sidelined again, watching Darragh go on to All Ireland glory with the Kingdom. He came back, won intermediate and senior with the club, but now, that’s his lot, and he’s quite content with it.

"My time with the senior team is gone", he said, two years ago, as he watched Darragh joined by Tomas in All Ireland glory.

"I had my chance in ’97, got that injury, and that’s that. But the two boys are there now, and hopefully Marc will make it as well. I’m enjoying my football with the club, and being involved in the training makes it even more rewarding."

Mind you, they take nothing for granted, the brothers. Marc remembers a bad day at U-21 against the Rebels "things didn’t go according to plan." Tomas is a spy in the enemy camp, a

teacher in Gaelscoil de hIde in Fermoy, but claims he hasn’t really learned anything.

"The one thing worrying me is that we haven’t seen that much of them over the last couple of months, they haven’t been playing too many games, so we don’t know what kind of a team they’re going to have out. Obviously they’re going to be very hungry after the last couple of years, but if our attitude is right it’s all about attitude on the day, and hunger if we get that right, if we’re focused, that’s the main thing."

As for the man who started it all, the original O Se, well, Paidi is still very much involved. No longer in the thick of the fray, but on the battlefield nonetheless, the tactical general.

"We’re no different than any other family playing football, I don’t want to make too much of it", he says.

"The lads are very much into the game, and I suppose the fact I was involved for so long had a bearing in it. They’re very dedicated, but there are plenty of other lads like them around the place, so I wouldn’t want to make too much of that.

"Being the manager can be difficult, you get the odd cutting remark from time to time, but look, when family are involved, I never like to talk too much about it, just get on with the job."

Same as he ever was, same job there ever was. Meet the red and white hordes, and cut them off at the pass. Trust me, it’s a trap.