Aidan O'Mahony has today confirmed his retirement from inter-county football. It was widely expected that last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin would be O'Mahony's last appearance at senior level for Kerry, and the official confirmation has followed this morning.
His was a glittering career, and retires with five All-Ireland senior medals, along with 10 Munster titles, garnered in 70 championship titles. That gives him a remarkable medal to game ratio, with a major medal picked every 4.6 games, on average. In addition to the honours with Kerry, he has been twice recognised individually: winning All Star awards in 2006 and 2007.
O'Mahony confirmed his decision via a statement on the Kerry GAA website.
Today I would like to announce my retirement. I feel the time is now appropriate for me to step away from the Kerry team.
It’s been an absolute honour for me to wear the green and gold jersey for Kerry for the past 14 years at senior level and I leave having great respect for all the talented players I have shared my footballing career with. I am extremely grateful for all the support my teammates gave me down through the years and I have made friendships for life.
I have been incredibly fortunate to represent my Club (Rathmore), County, Province and Country over the years. It was an honour to share the dressing room with such brilliant players throughout the last 14 years with Kerry. I have utmost respect for every player whom I have played against as we all put on our county colours with a common goal in mind.
I would like to thank the managers whom I have trained under with Kerry from Minor and Under 21 to Senior level. I will be forever appreciative for the belief you have all shown in me.
Thanks to the Kerry supporters who travel far and wide every year for both League and Championship.
I would like to thank An Garda Sióchana for their consistent support in facilitating my involvement with the Kerry team.
Finally, I would like to thank my family for their encouragement and ongoing support over the years.
Today is the beginning of something new!!!
Eamon Fitzmaurice paid tribute to O'Mahony, hailing him as an "incredible servant" to the Kerry team, saying that he "defied western medicine" in battling back from injury, adding that "for the medical team trying to hold him back as he fought to return to play was like trying to keep the tide out".
Words from his former manager Jack O'Connor were also included in the retirement statement, who accentuated O'Mahony's physicality as one of his greatest strengths.
Kerry had been bullied by the likes of Tyrone, Armagh and Meath three years in a row so we needed a new harder edge if we were to compete at the top table. Aidan O'Mahony fitted that bill perfectly. He was teak tough and fearless. The tougher it was, the better he liked it.
The likes of himself and Paul Galvin set the tone early on that year in our two battles in the Munster championship with Limerick. He often sailed close to the wind but that was the only way he knew how to play. Aidan had a great temperament for the big day and he marked some of the best forwards in the country over the years. Even in 2005 when Tyrone beat us in the final he more than held his own against Steven O'Neill who won player of the year.
O'Connor also pondered the dying of the light: Colm Cooper is now the only remaining member of the 2004 All-Ireland-winning team.
[Kerry GAA]
