Shane Stapleton was asked to best describe what Liam Kearns did for Tipperary football and, while he is absolutely heartbroken, it doesn't take long for the words to pour out.
The Offaly football manager Kearns died suddenly on Sunday at the age of 61, leading to a host of tributes for one of the most experienced leaders in the game.
Kearns spent four swashbuckling seasons with Tipp, which ended in June 2019 following a loss to Down in the qualifiers.
When he took over in 2015, he continued the great work that had been started by previous managers like David Power at underage and Peter Creedon and John Evans at senior.
Kearns took the county on an incredible trip, the highlight of which was an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in 2016.
This was followed up with Division 3 success in 2017 and a determined push to achieve promotion to the top tier in 2018. They failed to go up by just one point, losing in a dramatic finale to Cavan in the final game of the campaign.
Derry and Galway were among the scalps Tipp took during Kearns time in charge.
"He gave us something to dream about," Stapleton said, reflecting on his time working with the late Tralee man in the Premier county.
"I look back on our time with him and while we cannot believe what has happened, I think we will all carry his standards and his methods with us for years to come," added Stapleton, who is currently a selector for the Tipp Under-20 hurlers under manager Brendan Cummins.
"There were so many great displays from the team, in All-Ireland quarter-finals, winning promotions and pushing a very good Mayo team.
"Liam's positivity was infectious. His loyalty was unreal. His standards were so high but if you worked with him, he would have the height of respect for you. He developed younger players; he gave young coaches their opportunity.
"He worked hard and allowed the players time and freedom too. He was a brilliant man and a brilliant manager. We’ll all miss him. We’ll miss the chats. There's a huge void now, there is no point in saying anything else.
"Liam took us on an unreal journey and he did it his way."
The #GAA world has been mourning the sudden loss of Offaly football manager Liam Kearns, who died yesterday aged 61, reports @MartyM_RTE pic.twitter.com/ujMuU8TPUq
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) March 13, 2023
And what a journey it was.
"More than anything I think it was just the style we played," said Stapleton.
"Football was tough going and hard to watch. We hit the field and took on the opposition from anywhere on the field. We ran ourselves into the ground by playing a game that he cultivated.
"Even how he approached 2018 was a learning in itself.
"We had just come from Division 3 to Division 2. No one really thought that reaching Division 1 was possible. Publicly, Liam didn't make it one of his targets either.
"Even as we began winning a few games he told the players they would soon have to increase their training load as the championship loomed. He reminded the players that the championship was the priority.
"But at the same time, he took the senior leadership group aside and told them that they had a right crack at making Division 1 with the form they were in.
"The players listened and took ownership of that then. They went ball-headed for promotion and we only barely missed out on the last day away against Cavan, playing with 14 men after we had a man sent off.
"Liam had got the players to push it on themselves. That was a great skill of his.
"He demanded a lot from the players in terms of honesty, he set high standards, but once you were honest, he would do anything for you in return.
"He always stood up for the underdog. No matter who was in front of him he stood up for what he believed to be right and fair. I think his experience with Tipp football was a special one and we were all due to meet up this Saturday evening in Thurles (Tipp play Offaly in the Allianz League Division 3 campaign).
"The craic would have been good afterwards, no matter what the result. He would have been looking for an Offaly win obviously but he would have made time for us afterwards as well.
"I really feel some gesture should be made that night and I am sure it will be. I would encourage any of those who were on the journey with Liam to be there that evening to pay their respects. It’s going to be so hard on the Offaly fellas as well.
"When he was with us Liam wanted to create a club culture within the county set-up. I think when I reflect on it all it was the culture he created. He demanded a lot of the players and then gave them great freedom.
"We had some great nights out; we had some great training camps and he had a bond with everyone. He loved singing Spancil Hill on a night out and he loved chatting football day or night. We are just so sorry for Angela and his family."
Stapleton recalls ringing him on numerous occasions, day and night, and the manager would be busy watching Tipp’s next opponents.
"He could watch the same game two or three times; he wouldn’t stop unless he had his match-ups right and once he was happy with that then off he went with his game-plan and looking to hone it.
"His passion for football was serious, his knowledge of the players and his belief in them was unshakable. Even after the Tipp journey ended, we would often ring him for advice."
As a player, Kearns was an All-Ireland minor medal winner in 1980 and played for the county at under-21 and senior level too,
Subsequent to his playing days he managed the Limerick Under-21s, Limerick seniors, Tipperary and Laois, before taking on Offaly this season. He also coached Roscommon under John Evans.
During his six years in charge of Limerick, he led them to Munster finals in 2003 and again in 2004.
Before that he had led Limerick’s U21s to back-to-back Munster titles.
He succeeded Mick O’Dwyer as Laois manager and brought them to the 2007 Leinster final.
The former Templemore based Garda had been busy coaching club teams before taking the Offaly job. All the signs were that progress lay ahead in the Faithful County too.
Sadly Kearns will not complete his work in the county but his legacy in football will be remembered by Stapleton and countless other players.
