Offaly hurling star Rory Hanniffy has announced his inter-county retirement.

The news comes after the former captain and Offaly Hurler of the Year had been left out of manager Brian Whelahan's 34-man training panel that has already commenced preparations for 2015.

Following in the footsteps of his brothers Gary and Darren, the Birr clubman made his championship debut for the Faithful in 2001 after winning Leinster minor and U21 honours in 2000, and went on to become one of the county's leading performers. However, the versatile star's lengthy inter-county career coincided with a lean period for Offaly, who had won All-Ireland titles in 1994 and '98, and also contested an All-Ireland final in 2000.

His only reward for 14 seasons as an Offaly senior were a pair of Allianz League Division 2 medals garnered in 2005 and '09.

Hanniffy found success much easier to come by at club level. With Birr, he won a pair of All-Ireland club medals in 2002 and 2003 as well as a stack of county championship medals. His last appearance for Offaly came in this summer's All-Ireland qualifier loss to Tipperary at O'Moore Park.

 

Best wishes to Rory Hanniffy. One of my favourite hurlers. A class act and always seemed to have more time on the ball than anyone else

- Niall Mcnamee (@niallmc14) November 12, 2014

Best of luck to Rory Hannifyin his intercountyretirement. Been a pleasure line out with him over the last decade. #FaithfulToTheCore

- Sean Ryan (@s_ryan11) November 12, 2014

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