29-07-2025
Kerry midfielder Mark O'Shea's fast and meteoric rise delivers All-Ireland medal after just eight appearances
He never played a game for Kerry at any grade until May this year. Now, after just eight appearances, and having played a total of 355 minutes, Mark O'Shea has a Celtic cross medal
Kerryman
Three-hundred and 55 minutes. That's the totality of Mark O'Shea's inter-county football career to date. He never laced a boot as a Kerry minor or pulled up a sock for the Kerry under-21s. Sunday was his eighth appearance in a green and gold jersey at any level. Lining up against Donegal was only his fourth time to start a competitive game for Kerry; just his second time to play all 70 minutes.
An accountant by profession, O'Shea would be comfortable understanding the numbers, but processing them – and what they say about his journey – might be another thing. And the destination.
