Darragh O Sé’s yarn about kicking 45s in an All-Ireland final is pure Kerry

Quality from the former midfielder

There is so many GAA columns out there from ex-players nowadays it's hard to keep up, but we have to say we always enjoy Darragh O Sé's scéal in the Irish Times. His Wednesday column is good, not typically for searing analysis, but the odd funny story from his own playing days that might pepper his view of a weekend game. And this week's piece was no different as Darragh's insight into what players seek in a manager concluded in a pretty superb fashion, as he recalled how Kerry were going to get around not have a recognised freetaker on the field to take 45s in the 2009 All-Ireland final. Marc O Sé was nominated by manager Jack O'Connor to take the kicks, but big brother Darragh decided to spare his younger sibling the stress, by instead putting himself forward to take the shots at the posts. The only slight problem is Darragh would have more luck kicking snow off a rope than putting a '45 over the bar.

'Bryan Sheehan hadn’t made the starting 15 and although we knew Gooch would be fine with the frees, he wasn’t a man to kick 45s. Jack looked around the room and picked out Marc Ó Sé. “You take them for the club, don’t you Marc?'

'Now, I knew Marc wouldn’t sleep that night if he thought he was going out to kick 45s for Kerry in an All-Ireland final the next day. So before he had a chance to say anything, I piped up and said: “I’ll kick them. I kick them for the club, I’ll kick them tomorrow.'

'In Croke Park the next day, we were out warming up and I said I better go and have a cut at one of these so I know what I’m doing. I placed it on the 45, took a few steps back, looked up at the posts and drew the boot. The ball went about 25 yards in the air and scooted along the ground then towards the Canal End goal.  So much for planning! I went in to Gooch and took him to one side.'

'I’m kicking the 45s,' I said.'

'I know, yeah,' he said.

'It was discussed last night.'

'Right, well, if we get one,' I said, “'I need you to come short or make some sort of run for me.'

'Why?”

'Sure I can’t rise the feckin’ thing. I never took a 45 in my life! Don’t make me look like a gombeen in front of all these people, will you?”

'This was 15 minutes before throw-in in an All-Ireland final. I’d say Gooch thought I was some eejit. But actually, the whole thing settled me a bit. I had a bit of a laugh at myself. You can do all the planning you like but there’s no legislating for some gobshite with a bit of bravado in him.'

'Best of all, we got no 45 in the game. As far as anyone knew, I was the best 45-kicker in Ireland! Fooled them again, Darragh boy. Fooled them all.'

His late uncle Paídí would be proud of that story.

H/t to Irish Times