LONG-SERVING KERRY football defender Aidan O’Mahony has retired at the age of 36.
The Rathmore player won five All-Ireland senior medals with the county while making 70 championship appearances for the Kingdom.
His last outing was in the All-Ireland semi-final loss to Dublin last August and he follows fellow veteran Marc Ó Sé in making the decision to retire ahead of the 2017 season.
O’Mahony’s list of honours for Kerry is hugely impressive.
- 5 All-Ireland SFC: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014.
- 3 National League: 2004, 2006, 2009.
- 8 Munster SFC: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.
- 2 All-Star: 2006, 2007.
“Today I would like to announce my retirement,” stated O’Mahony in a statement on the official Kerry GAA website.
“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 U21 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!!!”
Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice praised O’Mahony’s defensive prowess and his role in integrating younger players into their squad.
“Over the years he has played in every defensive position for Kerry and performed every role to distinction from man marker to attacking half back, from a holding centre back to a sweeper in recent years.
“He was the ultimate pro in terms of the way he prepared himself for training and matches on and off the field.
“He led by example and was a driving force in the gym and on the pitch. He took pride in excelling at any physical work.
“Throughout his career he defied western medicine when returning from injury. He pushed himself to the limit and beyond to get back as quickly as possible.
“For the medical team trying to hold him back as he fought to return to play was like trying to keep the tide out.
“His leadership was of particular importance in the last few years as a lot of younger players have been integrated into the panel. He passed on the baton and helped these players to understand what it means to be a Kerry footballer.
“Honesty underpinned everything he did and his selflessness manifested itself in the way he was happy to advise and encourage everyone, even the players he was in direct competition with for a position; a rarity.
“He personified leaving the jersey in a better place. Aidan was a warrior for Kerry right up until the last minute of his last game for Kerry last August. I wish him and Denise all the best for the future.”
Former Kerry boss Jack O’Connor described O’Mahony as ‘teak tough and fearless’.
“When I took over as Kerry senior manager in 2004 it was fairly obvious to me that we needed to go in a new direction.
“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.”
O’Mahony’s club Rathmore paid tribute to a ‘superb leader on and off the pitch’, through their chairman Donal Murphy.
“We in Rathmore GAA Club, wish to congratulate him and to thank him, for all he has achieved, including 5 All-Ireland medals and a plethora of other awards.
“Throughout all his time with Kerry he has remained absolutely loyal to his club, and he always brought the same drive and intensity to Rathmore games that were his hallmark in the inter-county scene.
“Making his Kerry debut in 2004, he and Tom O’Sullivan gave us some great days out, annexing 4 All-Irelands in the noughties, and in the company of Paul Murphy he won his 5th in 2014.
“He has been a superb leader on and off the pitch and through his example, he showed all younger players exactly what the Green + Gold jersey stands for.
“We wish himself and Denise all the best in the future, and we hope to see him donning the Red & White of Rathmore for a good while yet.”
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Great player and great servant to kerry football, the next batch must be emerging
Great servant to Kerry, should enjoy the dancing.
A true servant to Kerry football. Inspirational to watch, never injured and a great example to the new lads at the back coming to take his place Thanks for the memories Aidan
top Player but a dirty hoor
He sees red sometimes but certainly not dirty
Respect to him for what hes won in the game but will always be remembered as a snakey dirt bird.the dive against Cork that time after a little tap in the face summed him up. supposed to be a hardy copper and he does that.bad form.the great kerry defenders from the past paidi moyihan tomas o se musta been mortified.
Enjoy your retirement Aidan. Great player for both club and county he was a real honest player I hope there is some young defender on the production line to fill his boots.
He’s going focusing on the aul dancing now
Wonderful player for both Club and County, as tough, as hard and as skilled as any of the greatest backs that played for Kerry. His heart and soul went into his preparation, the great American footballer Jerry Rice once said ” Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t ” pretty much what O Mahony brought to the table over the years. He was a born warrior and will be the yardstick for all backs that put that jersey on for many years to come. In saying all that I would hate to be marked by him !!! One tough cookie,
Stick to the dancing boy !
I would imagine he’s still a better footballer than you, and probably a better dancer too.
A bit one paced but still a great hearted player for both club and county,but won’t be missed in the kerry set up now as he really has’nt played a good game since he took a dive against Cork many years ago.
Your clueless John. Absolutely clueless. Marked Murphy out of the game in 2014.
Your clueless Goochfeather for f..k sake Adien o Mahony had to mark no one that day the way Donegal set themselves up,and if they had pushed up the field they would have beaten kerry who by the way shouldnt have been in the final anyway ask Mayo and that clown of a ref from meath.
Legend
Wonderful tough hard player. Gave his heart and soul to Kerry at the very top since 2004. I believed he had another year in him but he owes Kerry nothing. 5 all Ireland’s a amazing achievement.
Playing 40 mins with a broken leg and scoring 1-2 in the process. Would have to be one of the stand out memories I have of him.. true warrior…