Kerry's great Jacko Far from finished The National Anthem is not something most people pay much attention to. At the end of a night out, bodies sway dutifully to the strains of Sine Fianna Fail, minds on anything but patriotism. On big match days lusty voices ring out for the first few verses, then fade away to be replaced by riotous cheering as the teams prepare for the throw-in. For Jack O'Shea, considered not only as one of the greatest modern day midfielders but as one of gaelic's finest players ever, the National Anthem will always remain synonymous with All-Ireland day at Croke Park. Those ancient verses overheard anywhere in the world have the power to activate the switch on the images of Kerry's compelling domination from the late seventies to the mid eighties, stored in the mind of one of its heroes. As far back as '75 when Jack played at full forward on the winning All-Ireland minor side when they beat Tyrone, the Kerryman liked the taste of victory. Three Under 21 medals and seven All-Ireland medals later that thirst has in no way been quenched. "You're always hopeful more than confident about winning another All-Ireland, it's nice to have them but you don't think about what has gone by, you're always thinking of the future and the present. Just because I have seven doesn't mean I don't go all out to win in every match - of course I want to win another All-Ireland medal," says the plumbing contractor from his work on a new hotel at the River Forest estate in Leixlip, where he also lives. "How's your balance?" he enquired jokingly as we negotiated the journey through the hotel, precariously crossing planks raised above new flooring. "Everyone is waiting for Kerry to win, it is just a matter of getting a victory on the right occasion, the games we wanted to win we didn't, and that has been a learning process," the man from Caherciveen continued. With mounting impatience from some quarters fretting over the timing of Kerry's eventual return to power, which at some point has to be an inevitability, considering among other factors, the youth of the side, is there pressure being placed on the lads from the Kingdom in the run up to their clash with Cork? "We have a young team which at the moment we are intent on rebuilding. Our biggest problem is consistency, we have put together some good performances and at other times we have frozen or flopped it. I don't think anyone is really expecting too much of Kerry - most people will be expecting Cork to win well, if we can go out and put on a good performance we'll be satisfied." With his sister's wedding coming up at the end of June, Jack says that he would however, be delighted to have a match victory to celebrate also. The dedicated family man, known for his sportsmanship and perpetual good humour, shifted his six foot one plus frame, obviously cramped in the front seat of my small car, it being the most convenient place for the interview. Totally at ease with himself and others, a lifelong inner belief in himself having been supplemented by years at the top of his profession, O'Shea comes across exactly as he has been described many times before. With weather beaten good looks and piercing blue eyes, the thirty four year old was sometimes thoughtful, sometimes humourous, but always extremely courteous. Objectively goes out the window when you're faced with his particular brand of charm, and with few exceptions the average hard nosed newsman has had nothing but praise for the man with the incredible sporting history. Of course, if your name happens to be Liam Hayes you couldn't be accused of being a member of Jack's fan club. In an article in the Sunday Press last year, Hayes called for Jack's retirement, implying that among other things he was an ageing has-been. In the O'Shea corner nothing happened, his own public defence never materialising. "I was really hurt by that article, it attacking me personally, not my playing ability. I know a person has to do his job, you accept comments fair or not about your game, but I can't understand him getting personal like that," Jack states, still affected by Hayes' harsh words. "I didn't think it would do me any good to start writing in the papers what I felt, I suppose I'm coming to the end of my career but I've proved in the last twelve months that I deserved a place on the team, that's the best way of retaliation." Showing his usual lack of aminosity to adversaries ("I haven't always managed to keep my temper"), Jack nominated Hayes his Man of the Match after the Meath/Dublin draw. "I was just doing my job - I felt he had played one of the best games of his career and deserved the title." Jack and his wife Mary (from Glenbeigh in Kerry), have four children, Linda, Kieran, Aiden and Orla who range in age from eleven to three. Linda is a talented runner and the boys, who originally showed no interest in football, have recently become very keen on the game. "They're looking for me to go to their matches now and I'm involved with coaching in the club also." The club in question being St. Marys in Leixlip with whom Jack has played since '85 and has the same name as his old club in his native county. "Football is very demanding on a family - it has dominated my life for sixteen years and it helps that Mary has a real interest in the game. In a case like that I think either your wife is with you all the way or has absolutely no interest whatsoever in the game," says Jack, adding that his celebrity status cuts no ice at home when it comes to organising his lively brood. "I do my share around the house, definitely," he smiles. Aware of the pressure put on children of high profile sporting personalities to repeat the successes of their parents, O'Shea points out the damage that this pressure can do to a child. "I know people will watch them playing football and be looking for signs, but I think it's wrong not to let them go their own way - I want them to enjoy playing and will be happy if they get enjoyment out of it." At an early age Jack spent all his time on the local pitch opposite the family home catching the ball as it went out of play. "The Christian Brothers were very influential in getting lads to play the game and because there aren't as many Christian Brothers schools now, football is suffering at primary level." John O'Shea senior and Jack's mother Bridie had no real interest in football, though his mother's brothers did play. "Growing up 90% of the fellas played football and 3 fellas from the club won All-Ireland medals. Later on we lost 12 or 13 players from the underage club sides." A decision made early in life can have a major impact on what twists and turns a persons life and its possible that Jack O'Shea, footballer extraordinaire could just as easily have been Jack O'Shea, international cross country runner. Finishing fourth on one occasion to John Tracey in a Munster Colleges competition didn't direct the Caherciveen lad's obsession away from his primary concern - football. "I liked the running and it complemented my football but I didn't think of anything growing up only my two ambitions, to play for Kerry and to play in Croke Park." Barely past his sixteenth birthday, selected for the Kerry minors the first stage in the fulfilment of that ambition began. "The first All-Ireland I remember watching was the '68 Kerry/Down match and I had only been to Croke Park once before I played there." And that wasn't even to attend a match - the high point of a school tour which also took in the zoo, was the moment the youngster gazed out over the pitch and dreamed. "The next time I was there I was playing in the minor semi-final against Roscommon." Fate in the form of a strict talking to by Mick O'Dwyer intervened at the right moment for the rising star. "I had a lot of talent at 18 years of age and I could have destroyed it," Jack says, referring to his fondness for having a good time at the expense of his game, a revelation which came too late for many, particularly in the glamour world of soccer. "I decided that I had to give up drink altogether, I didn't need it. I haven't touched it since and I found out that I could enjoy myself just as well without it." Considering himself lucky to have been able to achieve so much in in his career the Kerryman admires the way less success counties continuously strive for honours. "Those counties put in as much work and they have the same goal as the winning teams, yet they have nothing at the end of it. Also so many fellas never get the chance to do what I did - I was so lucky to be involved with such a talented, competitive bunch of lads who were determined to do well." Saying that, experience of being on the losing side, although unpleasant has been of benefit to the Kerry team. Jack states that to mature as a player, it is essential to have been on both sides of the fence. Jack believes that not drinking coupled with the fact that he has picked up surprisingly few injuries in his long career has contributed to his ability to maintain a keen level of fitness into his thirties. The winner of six All Star awards (1980-1985) and four Footballer of the Year awards (1980, '81, '84 and '85) acquitted himself well in the forwards last year justifying the selectors faith in his talents. Much travelled, having been to Australia on three occasions and numerous times to America as well as many far flung outposts in between, 'the jungle' is where he would laughingly like to go next to avoid being recognised. Enjoying the celebrity aspect and no doubt exploiting it to the full ("people go out of their way to be helpful. A part I enjoy is slagging people who recognise me in Dublin about their team!"), Jack has only once been the object of derision by fans. "I was coming out of the Leinster Final between Meath and Dublin and when some gurriers recognised me, they spat on the windscreen and kicked in the wing of the car." Swift action by other less partisan Dublin fans saw the culprits off. The most shattering experience of his career to date was the much chronicled defeat at the hands of Offaly in the '82 All-Ireland. "I was captain in '83 when Cork beat us and it was the same situation - devastating. I recall feel that losing in '82 was the reason we won in '84, '85 and '86, if we had won in '82 and '83 it would have been difficult to maintain the team - like the Meath team, a defeat can make you more determined." With an incredible record of being unavailable for only a handful of matches in fifteen years of playing, Jack feels that it is a bonus to have escaped so injury free. Watching the 'Years of Glory' tape gives him great satisfaction and he says it is just what he needs for inspiration. "There are a lot of people who have had more talent than I have had and have taken the wrong turn, I always had great self-conviction and I think it is really important to have confidence in yourself and don't give a damn." What - has the great man a side to himself not previously disclosed - has he a secret callous side? He ruined that one straight away by adding, "well you have to care to a certain degree of course." Some of his best moments have been on All Star tours and the horseplay around the pool ducking numerous players and journalists, he says and quips "if Liam Hayes was there he wouldn't have escaped!" The memories come thick and fast - there are so many truly great moments to be remembered. "After the first year in an All-Ireland you take more in, defeat is very hard to swallow, but when you go back and think about it, you've achieved so much just getting to the final." On such a morning Jack and some team mates enjoy a round of pitch and putt, blocking out all thoughts of the afternoon. "If you try and act as normally as possible leading up to it, it helps. If you go to bed late or go out or whatever then continue to to so, a normal routine is essential." Acknowledging that it can't be that long now before he decides to bow out Jack says "it would be good to know when to go, it's questionable when is exactly the right time, if I had gone last year I would have missed out on so much. Knowing I'm not keeping anyone out of the team is important, it is difficult decision to make." With offers of management of Kilare and Wicklow being put to him last year, he is confident of further bids for his expertise when the day finally dawns. Whatever happens Jack would like to be remembered as a sportsman first and foremost. A lifetime of football, with all its joys and agonies. Like Charlie Haughey's political career Jack has hung in there for dear life. What a career it's been. And it's not over year. Who knows what the future holds? One of Jack's remaining ambitions is to run a marathon - successfully of course, for what else could you expect from a man who has pushed himself to the limit to say ahead of younger and younger candidates for his place on the team. If he has anything to do with it, he won't be hearing their collective boots charging up behind him Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 14th June 1991 Tweet

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