Manager Jack O'Connor struggles to explain exactly how Dublin prised the cup from the Kingdom's grasp, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY

JACK O’CONNOR comes into the media room under the Hogan Stand. Adidas cap firmly over his head, wearing the same garb he patrolled the sideline in, this is the last duty of what quite suddenly became a terrible day.

He looks a haunted man.

We know a bit about O’Connor by now. We know his footballing legacy is assured. We know him as a decent man from the southern most tip of The Kingdom.

Right now, he seems awfully alone. U2’s Beautiful Day is blaring from the speakers outside. The Dubs are still out there.

You’re out of luck

And the reason that you had to

care

It must feel like some sick joke.

The questions begin, but all we can hear is Bono:

You thought you’d found a

friend

To take you out of this place

Someone you could lend a hand

In return for grace

Jack, losing it like that must feel, well, you know?

“Eight minutes to go, having been three down, to go four up took a huge effort out of our fellas.

“Just maybe, maybe, the effort told in the last two or three minutes because the scores Dublin got to win it were turnovers.”

Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves is seeping into this dank, grey room.

I used to think maybe you loved

me, now baby I’m sure . . .

“Maybe the pace and intensity of the game told on our lads in the last five or six minutes,” O’Connor admits.

“But in the general scheme of things I have to be very proud of the way our fellas played. I don’t think many people would have given our fellas a chance of lasting with the Dubs the way we did.

“They played well . . . sure, of course to lose it the way we did is devastating.”

He mentioned turnovers. It was Declan O’Sullivan who gave it away to Cian O’Sullivan and the ball found Kevin McManamon, who duly wrote a little bit of GAA history.

“I’m not going to hang any fella out to dry. Obviously the goal was a huge momentum changer. You couldn’t see Dublin getting it back on points because we were quite solid at the back all day.

“The goal was bigger than three points really because it got the Hill alive and just gave Dublin the energy in the critical last five minutes that they needed to go ahead and win the game.”

I’m walking on sunshine, wooah

I’m walking on sunshine,

woooah

Im walking on sunshine,

woooah, and don’t it feel good!!

Refereeing decisions are offered as an excuse but he refuses to embrace the notion.

“We had that game in our hands there with seven or eight minutes to go. Just a couple of errors but that may be down to the pressure Dublin exerted on us.

“They put fierce pressure on us at certain periods of the game and maybe that told near the end, I’m not sure.”

Dublin were better in the quarter-final defeat of Tyrone than they were yesterday, O’Connor conceded.

The whole situation seems a little surreal. Kerry were cruising with seven minutes to go, and now the vultures are sifting through the wreckage. The dust is still in all our eyes (the best way to seek reaction, because it is all still so raw).

Can you believe, Jack, that you’ve lost the game?

(Big exhale)

“It’s hard to take, lads, you know. Fifteen minutes ago we thought we had the game won. That’s life, lads, you know? Who said life is fair?

“I’d have to say we can look ourselves in the mirror and hold our heads up. We gave absolutely everything in the preparation for this game. We trained very well. Really hard. I thought it showed today – we had plenty in the tank.

“It just looks like maybe Dublin’s name was written on it. They just got the one or two breaks and they got a sniff of it. They snatched it away from us but, sure, that’s life. We have to live with it.”

Shocked is the man from Toorsaleen.

“When you have one hand on it, it is tough enough, alright.”

The future is broached.

“Jeez, we won’t talk about comebacks. We’ll talk about that some other time.”

The party continues. O’Connor departs in search of a quiet room.