Brian Hanley has paid a glowing tribute to Westmeath hurling star Darren McCormack who has announced his inter-county retirement.

The Castlepollard stalwart, who was an automatic choice on the Westmeath team for 15 years and who played in nearly every position, was a notable absentee from the Lake County side that shocked Antrim in last Saturday's Leinster SHC first round clash in Mullingar. The three-time Christy Ring Cup winner's last appearance for Westmeath came against Carlow in last month's Division 2A final at Nowlan Park.

"He was our man of the match in that final and it was a fitting way for him to bow out," Westmeath manager Hanley told hoganstand.com

"I'm surprised there hasn't been more made about him retiring, but that's the sort of fella Darren is. He was never one for the limelight.

"When I first came to Westmeath last year, he was the only one of their players I knew. I played against him myself and I knew just how good a hurler he was. He had the respect of young and old. He played for Leinster and was probably one of Westmeath's greatest ever hurlers."

Hanley revealed that both Andrew Mitchell (broken thumb) and Dan Carty (knee) have been ruled out of Sunday week's Leinster SHC quarter-final against his native Galway. Tweet

Most Read Stories