All-Ireland SFC final:The now customary All-Ireland follow-up typically involves a runaround of bleary-eyed and half-unconscious players, all the time holding a dictaphone at a fair distance to avoid second-hand alcohol poisoning, but there was none of that carry-on at Citywest Hotel yesterday, Ian O'Riordanreports.

There was something shockingly fresh-looking about the Kerry footballers, possibly because half of them are still under 25, or possibly because they're saving the real All-Ireland celebration until after next year's three-in-a-row. Without tempting fate, of course.

In fact the only potential sign of a reckless night was the scratch mark down the right cheek of Kieran Donaghy, who quickly clarified the source. "That happened in the game," he said with a smile.

Even the Ó Sé brothers - famous for their All-Ireland-winning sessions - were a healthy picture of sobriety. Yet no one among them looked as if this was something they were tiring of, nor likely to do any time soon.

For Killian Young, the 20-year-old rookie wing back, the morning after was just like the night before. He said he had to pinch himself on Sunday evening when he was named on RTÉ's Sunday Game Team of the Year.

"I'd say I had to pinch myself about a hundred times this year, to be honest," said Young. "Especially in the Dublin game. There was so much at stake there, and so much talk about it. To be out there playing in that was just a great feeling.

"The first few months on the team were intimidating, looking around at guys you've been looking up to all your life. But after a while you get used to it, and before long you're just having the craic with them, like they're your best friends."

Like fellow defender Pádraig Reidy, another slip of a lad at 20, Young has just completed a stunning debut season, made all the more significant given the players he and Reidy were effectively replacing. Young was a panel member last year under Jack O'Connor, and appeared briefly in the Munster semi-final win over Tipperary, but for 2007 has been first-choice wing back all along.

"Of course, Séamus Moynihan, Mike McCarthy, these are massive players to replace. They were there so many years, and left a lot of experience behind them. There was some pressure on us, but at the end of the day, it was having players like the Ó Sé brothers around you, all helped. And then you don't want to let them down either.

"I know myself there was some doubts along the way, some criticism. But in a way that forces you to step up another gear. I mean there's no way you want to be going into games too relaxed. I think the bit of pressure on you pushes you on a little bit. Especially at training, to work harder. Gives you something to prove, I suppose.

"And I think it was both the Monaghan and Dublin games that made the difference, for the whole team. That (the Monaghan match) was a great battle, and brought us on big time. Even though we didn't play great football. Against Dublin as well. In fact I don't think we played as well as we could have all year.

"In bits and pieces all right in the Dublin game, but I think there's a lot more in this team. And even though we'll enjoy this one first, there probably will be the few thoughts of the three-in-a-row all right. We know we'll have to work hard for that, though.

"Like I think Dublin will probably be our biggest rivals again next year. They were close to us this year, and getting there. But I think Tyrone as well. They still have a lot to fall back on. And probably a point to prove as well."

While Young's future on the team is secure, the future of Darragh Ó Sé, though still only 32, remains in doubt. For Young, there is still plenty of life left in the five-time All-Ireland winner.

"Oh yeah, and I said that to him myself last night. He's being very hush-hush about it, and didn't leave much go. I don't think he's sharing it with anybody.

"But to be honest, I couldn't see him retiring yet. Why leave a three-in-a-row behind you? Especially when so much of this team are so eager to get the three-in-a-row. So I'd be shocked if he retired, personally.

"I mean the three back-to-back would be great. We can't get too big on it. It was a long time since the two-in-a-row was done, and even longer since the three. We'll enjoy this one, and the homecoming and all that.

"And I have to say Pat O'Shea has been magnificent this year. He's the first to call you over if he thinks you're doing something wrong. He'd explain things, just give you the pointer as to what you're doing wrong. You'll always improve in that scenario, and he's certainly brought me on in a big way."

O'Shea, meanwhile, had similar praise for his two rookies: "Well first of all they showed a lot of character at different times, coming up through their careers, and I would have been involved with the lads at different times. They always showed they had the capability. But the biggest problem you have with young players is not whether they have the ability to play, but whether they have the strength of character to perform on big days.

"And our biggest decision this year was coming out of the Monaghan game, where we hadn't done so well defensively. There were questions asked, and a lot of people wouldn't have been surprised if we made wholesale changes.

"But we gave a vote of confidence to them. At that particular time not only could it have finished their year, but it could have had a major implication on their careers, had they been dropped. But then Reidy came back and did very well against Mark Vaughan, and was superb yesterday. And Killian Young has done superb all year.

"And the likes of Séamus Scanlon as well. They were unsung heroes for us all year, the lads that would never get the recognition normally. They took their chance with both hands."