"The lads felt that I had enough work done, so I am trying to rectify that situation and get back and hopefully get in contention for a position for the next game, and try and get on the panel at least."

Ó Sé concedes that he found it hard over the winter to decide whether he would call time on his Kerry career.

"I hadn't made my mind up, I discussed it with my family and I decided when I came back from the holiday.

"Pat (O'Shea) wanted to meet up with me to talk about it but he put no pressure on me. I was injury free and enjoying my football so I said I would give it another lash and take it from there."

With the Kingdom harbouring three-in-a-row All-Ireland aspirations this year, it was something Daragh couldn't just watch from the stands.

"The main motivation to come back for me was that there is a great group of lads in there, there is no such thing as retiring and if I feel strong enough and fit enough to play I'll go with it. Until that time comes I'll know myself when there is a time to walk away."

With injuries and the absence of the likes of Colm Cooper - who is abroad - Ó Sé believes this is the right time to breed young blood while also giving some of the most experienced players some game time.

"There are a good bunch of younger lads also, and the fact that the under 21 championship is fast approaching, it might give older lads like myself a chance to get back into the team.

"It's great for Pat (O'Shea) and the management team, because there is a lot of competition for places."

Daragh believes that Kerry have had the rub of the green already this season, having disappointed on the opening night of the league in Ballybofey.

"We were unlucky against Donegal, but I suppose we were a bit lucky against Derry too, but we'll take whatever is going. I think it has been proved in the last couple of years that it's been important to be involved in the latter stages of the league because the more competitive games you have, you can't swap games for training."

The towering midfielder was speaking last night at the launch of the Ulster Bank sponsored Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé in Dublin. The club football tournament which begins this Friday will see eight teams battle it out for silverware.

"I'll be togging out for the club at the weekend," Darragh said.

"It's a good idea for club teams at that stage of the year to bring them away for the weekend and there are some good quality teams in it. It's a good bonding trip as well."

It's the 16th year of the competition and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern made the quarter-final draw at the launch, with hosts An Gaeltacht facing Ballylanders of Limerick; An Daingean take on St Mark's of Tallaght; Cork's Kilnamartra will face Swinford of Mayo, while Listowel Emmets face Kilrossanty of Waterford.

The final takes place next Sunday and will be preceded by a Ladies football challenge between Kerry and Galway.