DUAL PLAYER KIERAN Bergin has opted out of the Tipperary football panel for 2018, hence bringing an end to his inter-county days.
In May, the 2016 All-Ireland winner linked up with the Tipperary senior football squad — 16 days after leaving the Premier county’s hurling panel.
Bergin came off the bench for Liam Kearns’ footballers in championship meetings with Cork and Cavan.
The Killenaule clubman’s last appearance with the hurlers came in late March, after being involved throughout the League and coming on as a substitute in their 2016 All-Ireland final win over Kilkenny.
Speaking to Tipp FM yesterday, the 31-year-old confirmed that he was not in any way forced from the hurling set-up.
“I think it was in my head for a long time,” he said.
“When work was getting extremely busy, it’s something that I had spoken with my wife (about) for a number of months. It doesn’t help that much either if you’re not getting as much game time.”
And he says he won’t be rejoining the footballers for the upcoming season.
“The football, that’s not going to continue past this year as well,” he continued.
“I said I’d give it a go for one year and I think I’m at a stage where I want to try and focus on work and focus on family life.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):