NIALL MORAN IS retiring from inter-county hurling, and this time it looks like he won’t be coming back.

Moran initially announced his retirement back in December 2013, before returning last summer to play a part in Limerick’s journey to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

The 31-year-old started for the Shannonsiders in last weekend’s draw with Waterford in the opening round of Allianz Hurling League Division 1B, but was substituted in the first half.

Moran has since informed manager TJ Ryan of his intention to withdraw from the panel, bringing an end to a 12-year career during which he played 46 championship games.

“I spoke to TJ earlier in the year and I said I’d play some of the early season games and see how I felt physically,” Moran told Jerome O’Connell of The Limerick Leader.

“Having played the last four games I felt myself that I wasn’t getting to the pitch of where I needed to be at this level, and time constraints outside of hurling weren’t going to give me the leverage to put in even more time.

“I felt it best to be honest now and not become a passenger in a set-up loaded with ambition and talent. The margins for victory don’t allow for that.

“It goes without saying that I am disappointed in myself that I wasn’t getting to where I’d hoped to be, but 100% behind TJ and the best group a player could hope to be part of.”

Originally published at 19.53

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