FOOTBALL ALL STARS TOUR:THE FALLOUT from Kerry's failure to achieve the three-in-a-row continues to reverberate into winter.

But the best thing about hindsight is it has afforded former manager Pat O'Shea the opportunity to rationally put into perspective the overkill he felt occurred in the media's dealings with his team in 2008.

For sure, it was the media who sought his opinion in San Francisco this week as he prepared the 2007 All Stars to face the 2008 version managed by Mickey Harte. Typically, O'Shea was only too pleased to oblige.

The long drawn-out Paul Galvin affair will forever be identified as the weight that hindered Kerry in their pursuit of greatness. O'Shea felt some lessons can be learned on both sides of the fence. He makes a convincing and not wholly invalid argument.

The interpretation of columnists and opinion pieces during the championship is what particularly irked him.

"Look, everybody has got their own opinion, right? At the moment what you have in the media circles, not necessarily the journalists here, but in general you have expert opinion. Most expert opinion is opinionated.

"Individuals commenting on their take on the game, but in some respects it becomes factual because people assume to think 'that's true' "

In short, O'Shea stood by every decision made in his dream job. Maybe he is right, maybe too many people believe everything that is served up to them via the ever expanding media.

O'Shea has a solution; putting the emphasis on Croke Park to help educate players, which in turn invites an increased PR element into the GAA. This may not necessarily be a good thing.

"The GAA has probably in some respects got to at least give some opportunity to train some of the players. Give some workshops in how you deal with the media. Not that they should be coy but helping them to become more comfortable in front of cameras or microphones.

"The players like the attention and want to co-operate. Maybe the managers in some cases are more cautious and are afraid to let people out there.

"It is something the GAA should look at. It is going to be an issue in the future because there is more media attention, whether it is good or bad.

"Honestly, it has to be good because it is bringing players into focus far more and that can only be good for the profile of the player himself and obviously the team and obviously the sport.

"That's what we have got in the last ten years. The game has got more exposure in the last five years then ever before. That has to be welcomed."

O'Shea also spoke for the first time since his decision to step down after a two-year term that saw Kerry reach both All-Ireland finals, when winning only one was deemed a failure in the Kingdom.

"The only thing I'd say of it is last year was always going to be a difficult year for us. Three-in-a- row is obviously going to be something that will be harder and harder (to achieve) over the next couple of years.

"Circumstances changed for us during the year. Incidents happened. Brought us into the focus a bit more. Didn't help the team.

"At least three or four major incidents that got quite a lot of coverage which obviously didn't get us in the right frame of mind and eventually it came down to us reaching an All-Ireland final against quite a lot of difficulties.

"From a coaching point of view we were a point up with 12 and a half minutes to go in the All-Ireland final. Declan (O'Sullivan) misses, you know, it was a great save by Pascal McConnell. Bryan (Sheehan) misses the 45 to draw the game. You know, we gave ourselves chances.

"Tyrone have a very good side. It was always going to be a very tight game. I really enjoyed the year from that point of view. As I said, it was always going to be a difficult year with the way the circumstances turned out. I wouldn't have changed anything."

In the end, when broken down to the simplest terms, McConnell's outstretched leg decided the destination of Sam Maguire. That is the fine line of sport.

Tomorrow's All Star contest takes place on Treasure Island. An exhibition match. It only took O'Shea and Harte a few moments in each other's company after the media briefing to divvy up the reserve players to ensure the Irish American community who arrive at the spanking new San Francisco GAA grounds this afternoon will witness a fine display from the best the GAA has to offer.