TIPPERARY SENIOR HURLER Conor O’Brien has announced his retirement from the inter-county game.

The 31 year-old’s decision was revealed this afternoon by the Tipperary county board after a senior hurling career that began in 2007.

The Éire Óg-Annacarty club man won All-Ireland senior hurling medals in 2010 and 2016 while also winning five Munster senior medals.

O’Brien won Munster medals at minor and U21 level

“Since I first joined the Tipperary senior hurling panel in 2007, I have always felt it a great privilege and honour to represent my county at senior level.

“Having enjoyed it immensely, I have decided that now is the time to announce my retirement. I will greatly miss being involved with the Tipperary senior hurling panel as all involved among the players, management and backroom team are very special people.

“I have many great memories and made many lifelong friendships over the last decade. I want to thank all the players sincerely, we had great and some disappointing times together but we have always been united in our ambition to bring success to Tipperary.

“I also want to thank the managers and backroom teams who gave me the honour of representing my county and were always very supportive of me.

Eoin Kelly and Conor O'Brien celebrate Tipperary's 2010 All-Ireland final win Cathal Noonan Cathal Noonan

“I am very grateful to Tipperary County Board and Tipperary Supporters Club for their unstinting support of the team. My club, Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill, have always given me tremendous support and I thank them sincerely for that.

“Thanks are due too to my colleagues and supervisors in An Garda Síochána in Mayorstone in Limerick for their help and support down through the years with facilitating my training and games schedules.

“My eternal gratitude is due to my parents and family for their great loyalty and encouragement at all times.

“I want to thank especially my wife, Claire and our son Cillian, for supporting me so well and affording me the opportunity to dedicate the time required to being an inter-county player. I look forward to spending more time with them.

“Finally, I wish Tipperary well for the future, I have no doubt this team will go on to achieve many more great successes.”

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

‘I’m definitely coming to the end of my career, whether it’s over or not I just don’t know’

Ryan O’Dwyer – A year from a serious assault in Birmingham to a Dublin county hurling final