Tomás Ó Sé calls it a day
October 03, 2013
Tomas O'Se of Kerry with Michael Darragh McAuley of Dublin. INPHO
The five-time All-Ireland winner, who is regarded as one of the greatest half backs of all-time, confirmed the news to fellow An Ghaeltacht clubman and ex-Kerry team-mate Dara O Cinneide on Radio na Gaeltachta today. In a glittering career stretching back to 1998, the 35-year-old won five All Stars awards as well as eight Munster, five All-Ireland and two National League medals.
His last game for the Kingdom was in last month's All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin, which Kerry lost after an epic battle.
A member of one of Gaelic football's most famous dynasties, Tomás played alongside his brothers Darragh and Marc for much of his inter-county career. He won a Munster JFC medal with Kerry in 1995 before achieving a similar feat with the minors a year later. Kerry went on to reach the 1996 All-Ireland minor final, only to lose to first-time winners Laois.
The schoolteacher subsequently won three Munster U21FC titles in-a-row between 1997 and '99, adding an All-Ireland winners' medal in 1998. His late uncle Paidi handed him his Munster senior championship debut against Cork in '98 and so began an incredible 15-year inter-county career which yielded All-Ireland senior medals in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.
He has played more championship games - 88 - than any other player in the history of Kerry football, scoring a remarkable 3-35 in the process.
In addition, the Ventry man captured two Kerry SFC medals in the colours of his beloved An Ghaeltacht, and played in their 2004 All-Ireland club final defeat to Caltra of Galway.
Like Paidi before him, Tomás was a wonderfully whole-hearted player who took enormous pride in wearing the green and gold jersey. He also oozed class and was honoured with the Footballer of the Year award in 2009 following Kerry's second All-Ireland victory over neighbours Cork in three seasons.
Ó Sé's fiery nature meant he didn't have the best of disciplinary records. Indeed, he was sent off on five occasions for off-the-ball incidents in the past three years.
His decision to retire comes just days after he was appointed manager of the UCC Freshers team for the coming season. This role could yet prove to be the first step on the road to him becoming Kerry manager in years to come. Tweet
