Cluxton’s clear-the-air call to Ó Sé
Dublin’s All-Ireland winner Stephen Cluxton has made contact with Tomás Ó Sé to explain he did not mean any disrespect by kicking away the All-Ireland final ball presented to him by the Kerryman after September’s dramatic decider.

The Ireland International Rules captain tracked down Ó Sé’s mobile number and spoke with him to ensure his opponent wasn’t offended by the incident just seconds after the final whistle.

Cluxton had initially accepted the ball from Ó Sé before kicking it away a short time later as he made his way back to the dressing room. The moment, captured by photographer Daire Brennan, was seen as an act of sportsmanship by the multiple All-Ireland winner. Ó Sé had been in possession of the ball when referee Joe McQuillan blew the final whistle shortly after the Dublin goalkeeper kicked the winning free in injury-time.

A source close to Cluxton has confirmed: "Stephen wanted to make sure that Tomás did not interpret what he did as a show of disrespect. He’d have the height of respect for Ó Sé."


This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, October 21, 2011