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How Kerry Career Ended Still Rankles With Russell

27 April 2008; Mike Frank Russell, Kerry. Allianz National Football League, Division 1 Final, Kerry v Derry, Parnell Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
PJ Browne
By PJ Browne
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Mike Frank Russell says it still hurts that his Kerry career ended far earlier than he would have liked.

The five-time All-Ireland winner last played for Kerry in the 2009 National League, coming on as a sub in a victory over Derry during what was current Kingdom manager Jack O'Connor's second stint in charge.

"My Kerry career ended fairly abruptly," Russell told his former Kerry teammate Tomás Ó Sé's Comhrá le Tomás podcast.

"I'm not here to make excuses or rant. I wasn't happy. I was 31, which I felt was quite young.

"It was the middle of '09 [when I finished with Kerry]. I won't go into details. It still sticks in my craw really. I was up at the 2011 All-Ireland and I felt, 'I still think Kerry missed a trick here. I could be offering something off the bench'. Look, it is what it is.

"You look, you were there from 19 - 31, so you can't be too greedy. You won five All-Ireland medals. I suppose the carpet was pulled from under you a small bit and you feel 'there's definitely two or three more years here'.

"I still had great times and wouldn't regret it for the world. It's still a thing I haven't got over. Of the noughties team, I was probably the fella who didn't get to say my goodbyes. That's football, I'm not here to cry."

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28 September 1997; Kerry Captain Liam Hassett celebrates with team-mate Mike Frank Russell following the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Final math between Kerry and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

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Russell said the "flipside" of his Kerry career ending early was still being able to play well for his club Laune Rangers.

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"I was able to give the club three or four very good years," he said.

"We were still in Division 1 and we got to a semi-final of the county championship in 2012. I felt I played well for three or four years in the county championship and gave them a few good years back. You missed a few years with them because you were with Kerry."

Russell is now in his mid-40s and still playing senior B club football. That longevity may be partially down to never consuming alcohol or smoking.

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"I always loved football," he said.

"I love reading about it. I love playing it, love watching it, but maybe sometimes I became too consumed with it and maybe didn't enjoy the wins enough - you were wondering about the next game.

"When you look back at it, maybe I should have enjoyed it a bit more - the wins. I didn't drink or smoke. [My father] often used say to me 'stay away from the pubs'. I probably went too far with it by drinking nothing. I was afraid I wouldn't make it. Probably good advice. That probably drove me a bit too.

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"There were great times. We got great trips and holidays out of it, and great fun. I didn't take alcohol but I'd still be falling down laughing at what was going on."

See Also: Kerry Legend Wants Change To Kingdom's Top Tier Football Competition

 

 

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