And so ends one of the most successful, most lengthy, dynasties of all time.
No doubt we will see an Ó Sé in a Kerry jersey again some time in the future, but Marc’s confirmation that he is calling time on his intercounty career ends a presence in the Green and Gold that stretches back to the 1994 Championship when big brother Darragh made his debut.
Three astonishing Kerry careers accumulated 16 All-Ireland medals and the 36-year-old Marc went out the way of all the great Kerry footballers, by announcing his retirement on Dara Ó Cinnéide’s Raidio na Gaeltachta show.
Colm Cooper said he was most natural footballer in @Kerry_Official team. After epic career Marc O Sé confirms retirement to Dara O Cinneide.
— Tony Leen (@tonyleen) October 12, 2016
Given his debut by his uncle Paidí in 2002, the An Ghaeltacht man became renowned as one of the best man-markers in the game.
With three All-Stars to his name, the defender had little left to prove but, at the beginning of the year, explained why he was returning for another tilt at surpassing Tomas’s five Celtic Crosses and joining Darragh on a half dozen.
After losing the 2015 final to great rivals Dublin he wanted another tilt at the title.
“This year, after losing the final too, I didn’t feel right about the way it finished, and just wanted to finish up differently. It didn’t go according to script I suppose.”
Neither did 2016, losing a fourth consecutive Championship match to Dublin in the semi-final, drawing a curtain on Ó Sé’s 15th and final intercounty season.
It was a hell of a career. It was a hell of a dynasty.
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