A club footballer in Dublin has hung up his boots at the ripe old age of 66.

Diarmuid Desmond played his last game for Ballinteer St John's against Round Tower, Clondalkin in Division 11 South recently, bringing an end to over 25 years' involvement with the southside club as a player. He began his playing career with his native Rathmore in Kerry before moving to the capital in 1970 where he lined out with the Bank of Ireland team for almost 20 years thereafter.

The former full back / centre back explained to The Herald how he was forced to quit on medical grounds.

"I'll miss it," he said.

"The legs are fine, but I have an irregular heartbeat, so that's it. 

"I was looking at the Hill 16 website recently and since 1973 I have played against the 83 football clubs listed at least once. I was with the Bank of Ireland from 1973 to 1992, and with Ballinteer St John's from '92 to the present. And I actually played against Ballinteer and the Bank as well!"

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