It was like something out of D’Unbelievables.
Remember that famous episode where Johnny wasn’t able to decided on which sweet he wanted from the sweet shop.
“Can I get two of dem and two of dem?…No, no no, one of dem and two of dem.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEwVpWFyy3M
Video Credit: @Sceilig Youtube.
Tomás Ó Sé had his very own sweet shop moment on The Sunday Game. The panel had just named their Team of the Year and it was now time to focus on the winner of the highest individual accolade, the Player of the Year award.
And just like in the hurling where everybody was in agreement on Padraic Mannion, there were few arguments on the football couches again. Ciaran Whelan went with his namesake Kilkenny and Sean Cavanagh agreed.
The lads talked up his contribution in the final, his contribution all year and they felt that nobody had matched the Castleknock man. He scored 2-24 all year and also created plenty of havoc for opposition defences and plenty of scores from his teammates.
Men like Howard and Fenton surely deserve a shout too, but the lads just couldn’t look past Ciaran Kilkenny, except for when it came to Tomás Ó Sé…kind of.
So Des Cahill, like John Kenny in the sweetshop, asked the Kerry man for his vote. First of all he heralded Cluxton’s contribution to the Dublin cause, but then when pushed for his vote, he sided with Kilkenny.
Confused by Ó Sé’s indecisiveness, Cahill pressed the legendary half back for his final answer.
“They will give it to Kilkenny,” he said, “but I’d be giving it to Cluxton…”
“So who are you voting for here?”
“Kilkenny, I said!”
It's conclusive (even if there's a little confusion over Tomas Ó Sé's vote!) – Ciaran Kilkenny is the The Sunday Game panel's 2018 Footballer of the Year #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/xKyQOqbLGp
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 2, 2018
As for us, we reckon it’s not as clear-cut as the lads’ unequivocal backing of Kilkenny suggests. Brian Howard was phenomenal throughout his breakthrough season, and his two clutch catches in the All-Ireland final were two of the best plays of the day.
Bravery, guile, skill and athleticism, the Raheny man has it all. His clubmate Fenton had another power-packed final, scoring points whenever Dublin needed them down the home stretch.
One of the game’s great athletes, it wouldn’t be surprising if the 2016 footballer of the year regained his title.
