Offaly hurling, which is still reeling from the shock NHL defeat to Carlow just over a week ago, has been dealt another crushing blow with the news that their legendary half back Brian Whelahan has announced his retirement from the inter-county scene. Known to many as the "Millennium Man" after he became the only player in the modern game to be selected on the GAA's Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000, Whelahan informed manager John McIntyre last week that he will not be part of the panel for this year's championship campaign. The Birr man's last appearance in an Offaly jersey was against Wexford in last July's Leinster final when he was forced to retire with a hamstring injury. Whelahan, who will turn 34 later this year, won two All-Ireland senior hurling medals with the Faithful County in 1994 and '98 and was honoured with All-Star awards in 1992, '95, '98 and '99. Sensationally, he was snubbed by the All-Star selectors in 1994, despite winning the Texaco Hurler of the Year award. While widely recognised as one of the most stylish half backs of all time, Whelahan was named at full forward on the 1998 All-Star team after playing a starring role in the position during that year's All-Ireland final against Kilkenny and against Clare in the semi-final. Whelahan also enjoyed tremendous success with Birr, helping them to a record four All-Ireland club hurling titles in 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2003 as well as a string of county championships. He was only 16 when he played at corner back on the Offaly minor team which won the All-Ireland title in 1987 and also figured when the Faithful County regained the Irish Press Cup two years later. The Birr publican was still a minor when he made his senior debut as a substitute in Offaly's shock All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Antrim in 1989. Amazingly, Whelahan and Kilkenny great DJ Carey made their first senior starts in the same Leinster championship match in 1990 - marking each other. Whelahan's decision to bow out will come as no surprise after almost 16 years in senior inter-county hurling, although many Offaly hurling fans were hopeful that he would play on for one more year. Matters have been further compounded for Offaly with confirmation that dual star Neville Coughlan has quit the hurling panel to concentrate on his career with the county's footballers. The talented Shamrocks man managed to combine both codes in recent years, but will commit himself fully to the footballers for the rest of the season. Coughlan was the toast of Offaly football a few weeks ago after his winning point against Donegal saw them retain their NFL Division 1 status. Tweet

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