Mickey Ned on Micko the player: The mental resolve, the focus, the determination

O'Sullivan was a teammate of O'Dwyer's, a selector in his backroom and later succeeded him as manager.

GOLDEN YEARS: Mick O'Dwyer in a Kerry team photograph from the 1950s. Pic: macmonagle archive

Mickey Ned O’Sullivan saw the relentless evolution up close. Mick O’Dwyer’s Kerry debut was as a half-back in 1957. He kept getting better.

Famously, O’Sullivan convinced O’Dwyer to become manager during a road trip to a coaching conference. He would captain the 1975 All-Ireland winners. Before that, they played together.