Years ago, when sport was laced with salty humour, Joe Di Maggio found himself reminiscing on his relationship with the media. "I remember a reporter asking me for a quote," the great man said, "and I didn't know what a quote was. I thought it was some kind of drink."

That memorable line came to mind yesterday at a press gathering to quiz the four managers involved in Sunday's Bank of Ireland provincial finals. Well, three of the four. Dublin's Tom Carr, normally one of the most approachable figures in Gaelic games, was absent.

He was in another country, as a matter of fact. Perhaps, it was this disappearing act that got Mick O'Dwyer going. But, for whatever reason, the old master from Kerry put on a show. We bunched around, caps doffed and Micko didn't disappoint.

Like all true Kerry men, he sizes the world up with an amused grin, like he has something on you. When Micko smiles, the sun comes out. So there he was, in the company of Leitrim's Joe Reynolds and John O'Mahony of Galway. Of course, it was the vacant seat that was preoccupying Micko.

"Dublin . . . this is a good Dublin side. But I don't hear too much about them and that's what has me afraid. They seem to have gotten lost and now Tommy isn't here today," he chuckles.

"Ah, I'd say it will be a good game - Dublin are not going to be easily beaten, they never were. I know that from my time with Kerry. They have a lot of fine players who know Croke Park and who know what championship football is."

The word is that the Waterville man, after over a decade of resurrecting Kildare's fortunes, will hang the hat up for the last time soon.

Could be that this is his last summer waltz and, as he has guided his team through the shark waters of Leinster, he has, at times, lit up with the mischief of old. After they ousted Louth in the first round, Kildare's win was painted as the Game of 19 Wides.

It irked Micko and you feel that nothing in life would give him greater pleasure than to see his boys execute the perfect shooting game. Just for the hell of it, just to be able to shoot from the hip.

"There are other teams that have had 19 wides as well, ye know. And if scribes are writing about the bloody thing, it doesn't help the players when they read it. We improved a lot the last day, just had the nine, but I suppose we could revert, too.

"Any team can have wides, but it won't be highlighted the way ours are. We seem to be noted for it. But we seem to be able for it too, and, even if we do have the wides, we can still win the odd match. And it's going to be a great match on Sunday."

And then, without breaking, his thoughts turn to the state of Croke Park and that stunted field. "Croke Park being 15 yards shorter won't help, especially a young team like ours. Tis a pity they didn't think about building the pitch in Croke Park first and then building the stadium around it. Arrah, as long as it is a good, clean game."

This mention of headquarters brings up their recent dealings with Niall Buckley, when an obscure bylaw prevented his shuttling back from Chicago to join the Kildare championship campaign. Micko wears the wounded air of a man well battered by such dusty reason.

"Well, I didn't hear anything about that in my life 'til it came up within Croke Park. That happens every now and again, of course, they make an odd rule up. I don't worry very much about rules to be very honest, I'm interested in getting the game played.

"But technicalities like that . . . if a man is out in Australia or South America or wherever the hell . . . if he wants to play for his county . . . well, I think it's a ridiculous rule that he can't. I mean, we are an amateur game, we are supposed to be amateur, so I'm wondering at times . . . "

And then, after the faintest pause, he leans in for his final word with the casual delivery of the true comic. "Of course, I'm the only professional in it, they tell me . . ."

The room rings with laughter and the great man beams with pleasure. In these days of heavy solemnity, such moments are best cherished.