Marc O'Sé is stepping away from the Kerry inter-county scene, and his retirement is expected to precipitate somewhat of a changing of the guard in the Kingdom. One player who looks like he isn't quite finished yet is Kieran Donaghy, as he told Christy O'Connor in today's Sunday Times.
Donaghy has an autobiography coming out next week - with the fine title of What Do You Think Of That - and will likely be doing plenty of media over the coming weeks, but that is certainly no bad thing, judging by how excellent an interviewee he proved in today's paper.
While Donaghy was unwilling to close the door on the Kingdom, he was in reflective mood, and was superbly entertaining in assessing his career in comparison with some of the absurdly gifted men he has played alongside.
I'm an average footballer. I've no problem saying that. Most of my footballing skills are are basketball skills that transfer very well onto a football pitch for my position. I can't dummy solo with my left leg. I can't do much with my bad leg.
I've two championship points with my left leg, no goal. I even have a header. Against Cork in 2008, I went to fist the ball, missed, it hit my head and went in. I went off celebrating like I'd scored a peach from 35 yards.
Kerry are known for brilliant forwards, and then you throw a big fucker like me inside, and I'm belting all around me. You see Marc retiring now and the love he will get.
He was a gorgeous, classy footballer, and an O'Sé.
I won't get that. I'm a townie, a basketballer that acted the gurrier when it was needed, a guy who got the odd score.
Superb!
We heartily recommend you read the interview in full on the Sunday Times website or in today's paper.
If Donaghy's book is along the lines of the above, then I think we already know what to think of it.
[Sunday Times]
