We’ve lost some good ones this year.
Retirements happen every off-season but they’ve been particularly prominent over the last few months, with some all-time greats leaving the inter-county game.
Chrissie McKaigue
The Derry legend gave 15 sterling years of service, winning two Ulster titles and all four Divisions of the National Football League, having also spent a couple of years in the AFL.
James McCarthy
The Ballymun Kickhams star departed the inter-county scene with his legacy intact as one of the greatest players of all-time, winning nine All-Irelands during an illustrious 15 year career.
Brian Fenton
Has anyone ever packed more success into a decade of inter-county GAA?
Fenton won it all and it took seven years for him to experience his first championship loss, having won two Footballer of the year awards and seven All-Irelands. His retirement was the shock of the off-season given that he’s just 31 years of age.
Walter Walsh
Walsh’s arguably had the greatest inter-county debut of all-time, scoring 1-3 and winning man-of-the-match in the 2012 All-Ireland hurling final replay vs Galway.
It was a sign of things to come as he followed it up with two more All-Irelands in ‘14 and ‘15, before winning an All-Star in ‘16. A consistent presence in the Kilkenny team throughout his career.
Conor Sweeney
Enjoyed some great days with Tipperary football, none-more-so than captaining them to the Munster title in 2020, before winning an All-Star.
He also played in the narrow 2016 semi-final loss to Mayo, standing out with his brilliant left foot.
Darragh Foley
Foley didn’t win any silverware with Carlow but his influence on their football team was huge, playing over 160 games on his way to becoming their all-time leading scorer.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh
The Kerry star brought a decorated seventeen year career in green and gold to end just three days before Christmas. Ní Mhuircheartaigh topped off a career that included five All-Stars, a player's player of the year award and both league and provincial success by claiming the 2024 Senior All-Ireland Championship.
Patrick Maher
The three-time All-Ireland winner made a name for himself in 2010 and was at the heart of Tipperary’s decade of success, winning again in ‘16 and ‘19.
Maher won two All-Stars and was a firm fan favourite in Tipperary, battling back from cruciate and achilles injuries before calling it a day.
Adrian Spillane
A reliable player for Kerry who grafted hard in the half forward line, guaranteeing an honest shift.
The Templenoe man retired with little fuss with a joint-statement alongside Stephen O’Brien, having made 56 appearances for the county since making his debut in 2019.
Highlight was winning the All-Ireland alongside his brother Killian in ‘22, before calling time at just 30.
Stephen O’Brien
O’Brien was a key man on the Kerry team in the middle of his career before becoming one of the best impact subs in the game in latter years, with his pace giving Kerry a boost late on in games.
Retires with two All-Ireland medals.
Paul Cribbin
Cribbin gave 11 years to Kildare having won a Leinster under-21 title in 2013. 2018 was his finest year, earning an All-Star nomination, before departing the inter-county scene this month.
Eoin Doyle
Doyle enjoyed a 12 year career with the Lilywhites, captaining them from 2016 to 2019. Before that, the Naas man had the honour of playing for his country in the 2015 international rules series.
Tadhg O’Rourke
O’Rourke packed a lot into his nine seasons with Roscommon having retired young.
Having captained Roscommon to Connacht under-21 glory in 2015, he went onto win two Connacht senior titles, playing seventy times for the Primrose and Blue, generally as a midfielder.
Cillian Buckley
A winner of three All-Irelands between 2012 and 2015, Buckley was a key man on Kilkenny teams throughout his career. He generally played as a half back or in midfield, captaining the Cats to National League glory in 2018.
Grace Walsh
Tullaroan star Walsh was a key player on the Kilkenny camogie team over the last decade, lining out in defence in their All-Ireland wins in 2016, 2020, 2022.
She announced her retirement earlier this year, citing the ‘incredible memories’ of her time playing with Kilkenny.
Cahir Healy
Healy displayed incredible commitment travelling home from London to play for Laois for the best part of a decade before playing with London in the Tailteann Cup this year. He brought a nineteen year inter-county career to an end in June.
Paddy Maguire
The Leitrim stalwart called time on his career at the end of the 2023 season having made over 100 appearances for the county. The Glencar Hamilton man was a tenacious defender throughout his time in the green and gold.
James Dolan
Dolan gave 13 years of service to Westmeath, winning the Tailteann Cup in ‘22 as well as two Division Three titles.
He goes down as one of their greatest players having played in all four divisions of the National League, with over 130 appearances in the maroon and white.
Kieran Lillis
Lillis was a mainstay on the Laois football team for 14 seasons, playing in all four Divisions of the National Football League.
He captained his county between ‘20 and ‘22 before retiring at 34, having won the Division Four title in his final year on the panel.
Diarmuid O’Keeffe
O’Keeffe enjoyed a successful career with Wexford, winning the Leinster title in 2019 before collecting an All-Star that winter.
Generally a midfielder, he occasionally played as a wing back having played dual for his club, and with Wexford at underage level.
Dan McCormack
The Borris-Ileigh club man was a stalwart on the the Tipperary team, winning All-Irelands in 2016 and 2019. He bowed out after a ten year career, having been a key figure in the engine room for the Premier.
