2023 FOTY award would have cheapened James McCarthy’s glorious career

Like for Ciarán Kilkenny, Darragh Ó Sé and Colm Cooper, it will be looked on as an anomaly that James McCarthy never won Gaelic football's top individual award. 

ALL IN: James McCarthy of Dublin in action against Jason Foley of Kerry during the 2023 All-Ireland SFC final. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Dessie Farrell usually doesn’t do emotion but the mention of James McCarthy had him choked.

McCarthy was in another room in the Dublin offices in Parnell Park, saying his few words at the county’s press event before the 2023 All-Ireland final, when Farrell was asked what exactly about McCarthy was the reason he was selected as Stephen Cluxton’s replacement as captain.