Wexford have been rocked by the double retirement of David Murphy and Redmond Barry.

The pair joined the Model County senior football panel in 2000 and were instrumental in the magnificent campaigns that almost reaped Leinster glory in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Murphy has made more competitive appearances for Wexford than anybody else - 180 - and he was centre back and captain as the Slaneysiders came within a goal of would-be All-Ireland champions Dublin in the 2011 provincial decider.

"The body was starting to feel it," he tells The Irish Independent. "I have broken both wrists. I have had ankle problems. I've never had a very serious injury but I had a groin operation in 2008 and my wrists and ankles are quite sore.

"I met with Aidan [O'Brien, manager] recently and took that decision. I had quite a good championship but everything was telling me that it was time to go."

Barry adds: "It's a young man's game. The commitment required nowadays gets a lot harder with more dependencies." Tweet

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