IT’S not the first time that Jack O’Connor has had to digest a Kerry-Dublin game determined by a dramatic last-gasp free kick into Hill 16.
The tremors from Stephen Cluxton’s winner 11 years ago were still being felt right up until Sean O’Shea stood over that free kick from some 53 metres with six minutes of injury time having elapsed.
Kerry looked to be leaving Dublin firmly in their slipstream when leading by six points early in the second half having just missed a goal chance through Stephen O’Brien and seen an O’Shea penalty saved before half-time. Dublin were hanging on.
READ MORE: Monster Sean O'Shea free sees Kerry down Dublin in All-Ireland semi-final
But, clearly burdened by the recent history of this fixture, Kerry were reeled in as Cormac Costello’s goal flipped the momentum of the contest.
“That game was going against us, that was a fairly significant wind there,” said O’Connor.
“We had thrown everything at it up to then and I think the absolute key to it was in the last 10 minutes, when Dublin were pressing our kick-outs Shane Ryan got off all our kick-outs.
“I think that was hugely significant. If they turn over one of those kick-outs I thought we were done.
“Fellas like Brian O Beaglaoich must have shown short for four or five of those kick-outs and more importantly broke out and broke the line and got us moving again.
“We were still creating a bit down the other end, even though we were a bit wasteful. But what a battle, Dublin are a great team.
“Probably the greatest team of all time so you can imagine how much it took for us to finally get over the line.”
More than O’Connor thought O’Shea had in him at that stage, he admitted.
“I didn't think it was kickable to be honest with you, straight up. I didn't think a man could get the distance because Seanie Shea had emptied the tank.
“That was the 76th minute. He had given a ferocious performance up to then."
