dingle1
in the true Kerry tradition never a foul blow.

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Never a foul blow? Is there 2 kerry players called Dara O'Se?

He was a top player but was as cute & cynical as any of them. Ask Nicholas Murphy!

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 17/02/2010 21:34:11    565022

Truly a great player of the game will be missed all the best to him in the future...

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 17/02/2010 21:41:12    565038

could not let the day pass without adding to all the comments. daragh was another of the great kerry players. 15 years ias first choice midfeilder is a credit to him both as a player and person. he deserves every accolade, best of luck in the future

shaneanthony (Sligo) - Posts: 277 - 17/02/2010 21:58:00    565072

Anyone who says that he was not a bit cynical at times has differently coloured clouds in their world. But as a footballer, in terms of skill (point scoring, two footed, better foot pass than most handpasses), aerial ability, strength, longevity and taking responsibility he stands alone. He never ever went hiding. The only midfielders of the past 10 years who come close are Cavanagh and Murphy, but Cavanagh never did as much in his own half of the field (he is now a forward) and Murphy was more of a man around the middle. Darragh would show up anywhere. And yes, its true about Tyrone but my abiding memory is the famous 'incident under the Hogan Stand/puke football' in 2003. Loads of white jerseys with ferocious intent, but Darragh never dropped the shoulders. Total respect

JoeMontana (Galway) - Posts: 4 - 18/02/2010 08:31:27    565095

One of the most over-rated players I have ever seen! Yeah, of course he could catch a ball in the middle of the field but so could I if no-one challenged me! He didn't catch too many against Tyrone in 2003...the GAA have even changed the rules as a direct result of that match to suit him! Won't be missed at all.

HENRY (Tyrone) - Posts: 42 - 18/02/2010 09:04:33    565109

Best of Luck to a real legend of the GAA. Hard to imagine Kerry without Darragh O'Se...just wish we had a player of half his strength and talent. Go n-eiri a t-adh leo!

Rossies4life (Roscommon) - Posts: 178 - 18/02/2010 09:45:35    565125

HENRY
County: Tyrone
Posts: 31

565109 One of the most over-rated players I have ever seen! Yeah, of course he could catch a ball in the middle of the field but so could I if no-one challenged me! He didn't catch too many against Tyrone in 2003...the GAA have even changed the rules as a direct result of that match to suit him! Won't be missed at all.



HENRY my poor boy there are none so blind as those who cannot see.

You should have gone to Specsavers at least 16 years ago as you obviously missed seeing a true great during this period.

dingle1 (Clare) - Posts: 805 - 18/02/2010 11:09:02    565215

even though im from cork he is a true ledge!

rebelsrock (Cork) - Posts: 550 - 18/02/2010 11:13:46    565221

great player. will be greatly missed

mondred (Wexford) - Posts: 872 - 18/02/2010 11:21:31    565229

A quality footballer, fair play to him, enjoy your retirement - it's well deserved!

EnolaGay (Tyrone) - Posts: 653 - 18/02/2010 11:33:24    565253

It's sad to see,yet not entirely surprising,that people are always ready to have a go even at a legend like Darragh O'Shea in his retirement.I find it almost amusing that some(not all) Tyrone supporters and their Northern brethren are bringing up the Tyrone "hoodoo" in this thread.Darragh O'Shea had 2 AI's won when Tyrone won their first.Since Tyrone won in 2003,Darragh O'Shea went on to win 4 more.Tyrone are 1-in-a-row merchants.Consistency is the hallmark of true champions.To lose an AI one year(or even a semi) and to bounce back from that to win the next is a remarkable achievement.
Sure he was no angel but nice guys don't reach the top all that often.All the best in retirement Darragh,a true great.Easily the best Mid-Fielder of his generation.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 18/02/2010 11:42:46    565267

Dingle1...The fact is he was never that great anytime he played against Tyrone (or Armagh), in other words anytime he played against a team who didn't just sit back and let him play! Couldn't stick it when the heat was on in these matches.

Sure Enda McGinley showed him a clean pair of heels within 10 seconds of the throw-in in the 2008 All Ireland Final. Enda caught the throw in and ran straight at the Kerry goals with poor Darragh trailing in his wake. All he could do was clip Enda's heels and trip him up on the 21 yard line. And, furthermore, Enda made a similar run to kick an insurance point with about 5 minutes to go in that same match and the so-called brilliant Darragh was nowhere to be seen never mind attempt to tackle/foul him!

He was only good when he was let play, which is what I was referring to in my first post when I said that even I could catch a ball if I wasn't challenged. Once the big guns from Ulster started to mix it with him he really was nowhere to be seen.

HENRY (Tyrone) - Posts: 42 - 18/02/2010 12:02:10    565301

Great player at what he done. He thrived in an environment where physicality and strength were more important than skill and flair. Personally for me this type of Gaelic is of poor quality but it suited O'Se. Hopefully with his retirement this type of football will end also and Kerry can try to go back to the superb football they played decades ago. I wouldn't go as far as to say his All-Ireland wins were tainted but he certainly isn't up there with the Kerry greats. One of the best though in what has been a mediocre Kerry team recently, good luck to him

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 18/02/2010 12:15:08    565323

Darragh O Se will be remembered long after we are dead and gone. A record breaker, an inspiration and a quantifiable talent and presence in midfield since the mid 90s. He stands tall amongst Kerry midfield giants such as Mick O Connell and Jack O Shea-and as he returns to Gaeltacht club footabll I wish him well.

kerrykerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1779 - 18/02/2010 12:24:59    565345

you must have miss the S\F in 2000 and Q\F in 2006 so

kerryhurling (Kerry) - Posts: 274 - 18/02/2010 12:28:38    565354

Had the pleasure of training with him about 20 years ago with the Civil Service Gaelic team in Dublin. He was breaking on to the Kerry Senior team then and he had the lot - speed, hands, agility, intelligence, skill. Wasn't as robust then as is now but a few years soon sorted that out.

The Rolls Royce of Gaelic footballers.

Would like to see him as pundit instead of those 3 on RTE. time for a new breed - Canavan, O Se and Dunphy - what a line up!

bomber_liston (Kerry) - Posts: 7 - 18/02/2010 13:32:24    565493

Pomeroy man - I can't believe that you say he was just about power and strength and nothing else. He was two-footed, look at his scoring record for a midfielder, he was more a playmaker than a breaker, and his passing was top class. He had his bad days for sure, but even then he would always front up and take whatever was going on the chin. To say the game will be better without him is a heresy. Look at the respect that peers like Whelan and McGrane have shown in their tributes, and I'm sure a sportsman like your own Seán Cavanagh would say the same.

JoeMontana (Galway) - Posts: 4 - 18/02/2010 13:56:21    565529

Henry1 - he had a great game in the 2008 final (when he was 33), do you not recall a left footed point in the second half?

JoeMontana (Galway) - Posts: 4 - 18/02/2010 13:58:34    565537

legend nuff said

down1991 (Clare) - Posts: 90 - 18/02/2010 14:19:00    565568

As a midfielder myself, I always looked forward to watching Darragh play, thats who every midfielder should aspire to imo. A true legend, the facts speak for themselves, there are not too many players that have played so many games at the highest level (including his u-21 medals) and never lost his hunger for the game, I'm sure he could carry on for another year.

There is a saying that nobody remembers second place - well according to the few anti-Dara posts thats all they remember about him - thats enough of a tribute to him!!

radiotower (Cavan) - Posts: 75 - 18/02/2010 14:30:48    565595