Maurice Fitzgerald v Meath: When one of the great careers ended on a low in 2001 

Tomás Ó Sé and Dara Ó Cinnéide recall a day the Kingdom collapsed against the Royals.

Páidi Ó Sé, Kerry manager about to introduce Maurice Fitzgerald as a substitute at Croke Park in 2001. Picture: Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILE

“Put in that Kerry would have won had Maurice Fitz started and I wasn’t suspended,” chuckles Tomás Ó Sé.

Twenty-three years should be a safe enough remove from one of Kerry’s most dispiriting days in Croke Park yet even at that Ó Sé knows it’s only gallows humour.