Jack O'Connor: I said a few quiet prayers to my late mother on Sunday

Eighteen years on from his first All-Ireland SFC title with Kerry, O’Connor’s sustained Gaelic football relevance couldn’t be rooted in anything other than a deep love for the game

RAPT: Jack O'Connor addressing the Kerry supporters during the Kerry team homecoming to Killarney on Monday night. Pic: Don MacMonagle

In the heat of battle on Sunday, Jack O’Connor was saying silent prayers to his late mother Sheila. The same woman who never wanted him to go for the position. The same woman who sadly passed away the same October day in 2003 he was handed the keys to the kingdom.

To deny her a dying wish turned out to be Kerry’s blessing as it was in November 2008 when he did it again and once more in October of last year. Turning down his county was just not something he could do even for her.