Stepping Away And Retirements (Early)

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

isnt it a sign of the times with player taking years out latest being Stephen O'Keefe of Waterford hurlers...and I see Kerrys Jonathan Lynne retiring at 30 years of age and Meath footballer Sean Tobin retiring at 29/30 too...great to have all these back doors and super 8's and drawn out club championships, but the reality is not everyone will be able to do such a combination of long drawn out seasons for too long in their playing careers...30 years ago a player at 30 had at least 5 or 6 years (and some more) left...not anymore...which is a pity with some of the talent we are seeing retiring... Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1041 - 02/01/2021 23:28:44 2325830 Link
Replying To Fairplayalways: "isnt it a sign of the times with player taking years out latest being Stephen O'Keefe of Waterford hurlers...and I see Kerrys Jonathan Lynne retiring at 30 years of age and Meath footballer Sean Tobin retiring at 29/30 too...great to have all these back doors and super 8's and drawn out club championships, but the reality is not everyone will be able to do such a combination of long drawn out seasons for too long in their playing careers...30 years ago a player at 30 had at least 5 or 6 years (and some more) left...not anymore...which is a pity with some of the talent we are seeing retiring..." Tobin is 29. Yeah it shows how much goes into playing these days. It's now a elite sport that demands 7 days a week and god knows how many hours a day. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 03/01/2021 12:27:25 2325845 Link
It is a huge demand on a persons life. So much goes on hold, the demands on time, physical well being etc is now huge. Surprised players can go at it that long. arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4974 - 03/01/2021 12:38:54 2325849 Link
Donie Shine also retired completely from football at 31 oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1651 - 03/01/2021 14:38:04 2325863 Link
Donal Vaughan Mayo another player to retire age 32years.A very good servant to Mayo. CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4243 - 03/01/2021 15:11:46 2325868 Link
Donnie Vaughan just announced to. Some great servants calling it a day this week, wishing them best wishes in their retirement. TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4541 - 03/01/2021 15:43:55 2325872 Link
even Vaughan at 32 has a massive amount of mileage up...posters are correct, the commitment now is savage, and not for everyone either...unless you are from one of the more sucessful counties, you wont get much back from the GAA...most have good jobs and careers and are educated, so "getting" them a job is now not a runner in most cases although no doubt it stil happens in the not so prominent counties...also alot of players now are not from traditonal GAA families and this is all relatively new as such, and the cost of maintaining a county career I would think is something now that you would want a good home set up and support, and not everyone has that set up..its a pity but thats the way it is I suppose..I know a few lads on Offaly hurling panel left as the cost of being involved was something they could not carry..its ok getting expenses but you cannot head off to a big game with 10 or 20 in your pocke now adays.. Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1041 - 03/01/2021 22:27:19 2325896 Link
I don't think it's true to say that 30 years ago most 30 year old inter County players had at least 5/6 years left. The older the player gets the more likely it has always been that they would lose their place to a younger player. Some players of course buck the trend. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13850 - 04/01/2021 09:49:38 2325908 Link
Replying To MesAmis: "I don't think it's true to say that 30 years ago most 30 year old inter County players had at least 5/6 years left. The older the player gets the more likely it has always been that they would lose their place to a younger player. Some players of course buck the trend." Agreed. There's no doubt that the commitment is greater now, but of the players listed on this thread, how many of them were still regular starters for their county. They've given great service, but were down the pecking order now, having been replaced by younger players. That part of the game hasn't changed, although we are likely to see careers being shorter in years, as players are putting in more effort now than ever. This eventually takes its toll on the body. It's the same in all high-level sport. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 3048 - 04/01/2021 10:56:23 2325919 Link
Another big name bows out today.Mayo s David Clarke announces retirement from inter county football.A very good goalkeeper.wishing him all the best in his retirement. CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4243 - 04/01/2021 12:46:34 2325927 Link
Sad that great mayo players retire without an all Ireland medal. Unless issues are addressed we will see more of this. gahfan (Wexford) - Posts: 641 - 04/01/2021 13:24:10 2325931 Link
Unfortunately, for mayo, I believe there will be at least two if not four more retirements from the squad. I think that both Keith Higgins and Seamus O'Shea will call time as both are now 35. Colm Boyle I think will give it one last year as he 34 but was injured for most of last year. Also Tom Parsons might call time. I do not think there is any trouble in camp but just the natural changing of the old guard for some new fresh blood. They were all brilliant servants and gave mayo supports some fantastic days out. Giveitago (Mayo) - Posts: 86 - 04/01/2021 14:39:04 2325936 Link
Graham biggy Reilly. Just announced his retirement. The last non dub playing that had a Leinster medal. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/01/2021 14:52:40 2325940 Link
Meanwhile in a parallel universe fento said in an interview that James mccarthy was thrown before a match when they weren't in the "home" dressing room in croke park. Mayo - the people's team. gahfan (Wexford) - Posts: 641 - 04/01/2021 15:10:07 2325948 Link
Replying To Giveitago: "Unfortunately, for mayo, I believe there will be at least two if not four more retirements from the squad. I think that both Keith Higgins and Seamus O'Shea will call time as both are now 35. Colm Boyle I think will give it one last year as he 34 but was injured for most of last year. Also Tom Parsons might call time. I do not think there is any trouble in camp but just the natural changing of the old guard for some new fresh blood. They were all brilliant servants and gave mayo supports some fantastic days out." It is hard to see Higgins, S'O'Shea, Boyle, Parsons, Barrett continuing this year. McLoughlin is 33. Even Keegan (31) and A.O' Shea (30) have an awful lot of football played and have lost that yard of pace. They were serious players and really deserved one All Ireland. Remind me of former Waterford hurlers and indeed some of the former Galway hurlers. hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 455 - 04/01/2021 15:21:19 2325951 Link
Replying To hopballref: "It is hard to see Higgins, S'O'Shea, Boyle, Parsons, Barrett continuing this year. McLoughlin is 33. Even Keegan (31) and A.O' Shea (30) have an awful lot of football played and have lost that yard of pace. They were serious players and really deserved one All Ireland. Remind me of former Waterford hurlers and indeed some of the former Galway hurlers." Sadly that happens in almost every county, even in Cork where it looks as if Anthony Nash, who could have played with Limerick and made such a difference early in the last decade, and Pat Horgan will both go without the big prize. Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4566 - 04/01/2021 15:42:29 2325953 Link
Replying To gahfan: "Sad that great mayo players retire without an all Ireland medal. Unless issues are addressed we will see more of this." What can you do. Look all the great footballers, even from Wexford and Limerick and several went without All Ireland. Mick Mackey's father widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of his day played inter county for 15 years without the major prize and the county won an All Ireland the following year after he retired. and another won three years late. However, his story is only the story of several equally committed players throughout the country, over the decades. Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4566 - 04/01/2021 15:50:30 2325954 Link
Replying To Oldtourman: "What can you do. Look all the great footballers, even from Wexford and Limerick and several went without All Ireland. Mick Mackey's father widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of his day played inter county for 15 years without the major prize and the county won an All Ireland the following year after he retired. and another won three years late. However, his story is only the story of several equally committed players throughout the country, over the decades." Ciaran Whelan must be the unluckiest - started in 96' and retired in 10' I think. hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 455 - 04/01/2021 16:51:05 2325965 Link
The effort involved these days is huge. I know some of the Wexford hurlers, they give up career opportunities, personal life, stag parties etc all to play hurling. It is just too much and there is no way back. I play at a good club level, but for Covid I would not have played last year because I was sick of the lack of clarity surrounding club fixtures. Also, I want to get along in work and working long hours in Dublin was not going to work with playing hurling. I don't want to be a 30-something with nothing to show career wise, and I don't care how much value people put on county medals. Maybe I am just not a died in the wool GAA man but there is far more to life than it for me anyway. StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2169 - 04/01/2021 17:35:06 2325981 Link
Our 2014 allireland winning goal keeper Brian Kelly has retired aged 31, thats the 2 legion lads gone from our panel now. A lot of big football retirements in the last few days. KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 04/01/2021 18:03:30 2325987 Link

National Forum

Stepping Away And Retirements (Early)