“I had my mind made up after it that I was retiring. I played on so many Cill na Martra teams down through the years but that day of all the teams I had been on they showed more heart and more fight than any other. I knew leaving that day that they could do good things.” 

Fifteen months later and 60 minutes away from an All-Ireland title, O’Leary’s faith has been justified. To not be togging out doesn’t hurt him as much when he is a selector to John Evans.

“I thought I would feel like I missed out and this and that but I don’t. I’m happy with my decision and to see them driving on. That has to happen as well. There has to be a forward plan there and you have to bring in youth and my time was done.

“I’m involved so you feel part of it really and you don’t get too wound up. I would have found it harder if I was in the crowd, to be honest. 

"You often hear people saying it is harder watching from the stand and I can understand that. You’re focusing on a lot more when you’re on the line and it takes your mind off it a little bit.” 

As big a personality as Evans is, O’Leary is too and he isn’t shy of disagreeing with the Killorglin man. Last weekend, Evans mentioned that “Cill na Martra were known as bottlers but not anymore".

Maybe Evans has the benefit of having an outsider’s perspective but O’Leary wouldn’t go as far as saying that. 

“I wouldn’t be 100% on that statement. I understand totally where he’s coming from on it. I would say it was more growing up that was needed, really. They were a young team and maybe a small bit naïve.

“In the last two years, I would have felt they grew up a lot. Having that bit of experience, going through the highs and the lows, they’ve become men.” 

In Evans, O’Leary feels they have a manager who imbues the players with a can-do philosophy. 

“There’s a confidence there with John and you look at the top managers they all have it. He has brought that with him. 

"It was the right time for him to come in because the players had grown up and with John, there is a belief at all times that the opposition can be beaten. I think that’s a great trait to have.” 

*****

IT'S ALMOST 10 years ago that O’Leary announced his inter-county retirement, a career suitably honoured in a TG4 Laochra Gael show last March. O’Leary spoke openly about the loss of his brother Ciarán and cousin Mark’s suicides and the tragic death of his friend Benny and his subsequent mental health challenges.

The contributions of O’Leary’s mother Máire were just as poignant. 

“It wasn’t something I was doing for the football, it was more the private side. When they approached me first, I was iffy about it but if it was to help anyone… I got a lot of phone calls from people who weren’t interested in football but going through those things in life and that was the whole premise of the thing.

“The reaction was unbelievable and it has been great for my whole family, my mother in particular. It’s been great for her. 

"She probably came across quite well with all that she went through and it’s probably given inspiration to other women out there to see that life does go on while it can be hard.” 

Football was O’Leary’s saviour and All-Ireland glory finally came at the third time of asking in 2010. He will be tapping into that experience when he speaks to his old teammates this week.

“I look back on the All-Irelands I lost and won and the common denominator is it is another game. There is huge pressure but it is about playing the game and the way you want to play it instead of inviting a team onto you and waiting to see what they’re going to do.

“I think that’s what catches a lot of teams when they get up there. Not taking a chance when you could take it 40 times out of 40 in Páirc Uí Rinn or wherever. You've just got to go for it and I know it’s easier said than done but that’s the reality of the situation.” 

For the parish and all its ex-pats scrambling to get home for Sunday, the one-week turnaround from the semi-final doesn’t lend to a great build-up but O’Leary doesn’t mind.

“It’s two-sided: we felt we were a bit flat against St Kevin’s the last day and maybe it’s better that we just try and right that wrong straight away. We don’t see it as too much of a negative.

“I’ve heard a few names meant to be coming (back) for it and those are guys I wouldn’t have seen for years and years. 

"Just to hear those names and the pride that they must have to get on a plane, it’s immense. It goes for every small, rural club. It can come around once in a lifetime and we’re no different. People are buzzing.

“I hate putting too much emphasis on us being a small parish. We are an extremely small parish but on the plus side of that, we’ve nothing else. Cullyhanna would be the same. There are no distractions, no hurling, no soccer. It’s a benefit and it’s a religion around our way.”