Advertisement

Some of Gaelic football's biggest names hung up their inter-county boots in 2015

Meath, Derry and Dublin among those counties hit hardest.

1. Ger Brennan – Dublin

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The St Vincent’s centre-back called time on his Dublin career at the start of October following a lengthy period of injury problems.

Brennan won two All Ireland medals with the Dubs (2011 and 2013) as well as five Leinster medals and a National League title.

2. Kevin Reilly – Meath

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The Meath full-back was another who suffered with injury for a number of years. It was a persistent hip injury that eventually ended the 29-year-old’s career, however that came after a horror run of back, Achilles and knee problems.

The former Royals captain has won four Meath SFC titles with Navan O’Mahony’s to go alongside a Leinster championship medal in 2010 and eight appearances for Ireland in International Rules.

3. Fergal Doherty – Derry

Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

Doherty has been one of the most influential inter-county midfielders for over a decade. He made his championship debut for Derry in 2001 and was nominated for an All Star on four occasions.

The hugely popular Bellaghy man decided to hang up his boots in October due to injury problems and work commitments.

4. Stephen Bray – Meath

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

When Bray kicked four points from play for a victorious Navan O’Mahony’s in this year’s Meath county final, he was already a month into inter-county retirement.

The mercurial forward lit up the Leinster championship on numerous occasions and like club-mate Kevin Reilly, he captained his county during a decorated career. An All Star in 2007, Bray (33) won the Leinster championship with Meath in 2010 and has three county titles to his name.

5. Finnian Moriarty – Armagh

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Moriarty’s proudest moment in an Armagh jersey was an Under-21 All Ireland win in 2004. The Wolfe Tone man was a feature of the Orchard county panels for a number of years and won two Ulster senior football medals and a National League.

6. Paul Barden – Longford

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

One of Longford’s best footballers in recent memory called time on his inter-county career in February. The 34-year-old made his debut in 1999 and was a member of Ireland’s International Rules squad in 2002 and 2006.

He won an O’Byrne Cup medal in 2000 and has claimed three Longford senior championships with his club Clonguish.

7. Bryan Cullen – Dublin

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Cullen announced his retirement at the start of this year and as Dublin reclaimed Sam Maguire he may be regretting it. The classy distributor played in the half-back and half-forward lines for the Dubs, winning two All-Ireland medals, including one as captain in 2011.

Also on the Copper Face Jacks gold card holder’s CV  are 10 Leinster titles and two National Leagues during his 11 years at inter-county level.

8. Mick Foley – Kildare

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Foley was another big-name inter-county withdrawal at the beginning of the year following a career that included an All Star in 2011.

The Athy defender’s career began in 2004 but was relatively short of silverware – O’Byrne Cup wins in 2013 and 2014 being the highlights.

9. Rory Donnelly – Clare

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Donnelly retired from inter-county football in October. The forward said the main reasons for his departure were injury issues and due to him currently living in Meath.

The Cooraclare clubman had been a regular Banner panelist since 2003 and won a Sigerson Cup medal with IT Sligo.

10. Stephen Lucey – Limerick

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

The Limerick dual star had a remarkable 17-year inter-county career although it was relatively short on success.

Lucey last represented the Limerick senior hurlers in 2011 and was playing inter-county football up to last season. However, at 35 years old and struggling with injury, the Croom clubman decided to call it a day last month.

11. Gary Connaughton – Westmeath

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Connaughton retired earlier this month after 13 seasons at inter-county level.

An AllStar in 2008 and a Leinster medal winner in 2004, Connaughton was one of the country’s best goalkeepers for a number of years.

The Tubberclair man originally retired in 2013 before returning last season – however he has opted out again to focus on his career.

12. Alan Brogan – Dublin

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Brogan had to wait long enough to get his hands on the All-Ireland trophy but wins in 2011, 2013 and 2015 see him retire a happy man. And that is without mentioning his 11 Leinster titles, three AllStars and three National League titles

The 2011 Footballer of the Year decided not to play on for Jim Gavin’s side in 2016 midway through this month. And his last contribution to Dublin football as a player was tagging on a crucial score in the 2015 All-Ireland final against Kerry.

The Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh man plans to keep lining out at club level but felt that 13 years of inter-county football was his limit.

TJ Reid: ‘If I heard a person saying that I’m cocky, I wouldn’t like it’

The King’s story and Jimmy’s system: The42′s favourite GAA books of 2015

Close
Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Murphy
    Favourite Graham Murphy
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 3:51 PM

    Norman Whiteside wasn’t 17 in 1985, unless he played in the 82 world cup when he was 14!

    185
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute vv7k7Z3c
    Favourite vv7k7Z3c
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:00 PM

    Cheers Graham,

    I obviously got Norman Whiteside and Freddy Adu mixed up!

    177
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute N O hUallaigh
    Favourite N O hUallaigh
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:22 PM

    That 1970 match description is class.. “neutralised”

    96
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jon Walters
    Favourite Jon Walters
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:29 PM

    Your a gas man, Will

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Manus Boyce
    Favourite Manus Boyce
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 3:46 PM

    Wouldn’t consider that tackle to be a straight red nowadays, probably borderline. Back then….not even close, yellow at worst

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eamonn Maloney
    Favourite Eamonn Maloney
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Miss timed is all it was.I remember watching that game and being shocked when he was sent off.Disagree that it was on any way cynical, there isn’t a cynical bone in Kevin Moran’s body.

    102
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
    Report
    May 19th 2015, 2:10 PM

    Yeah, definitely mis-timed. I blame Reid for having legs!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Kavanagh
    Favourite Graham Kavanagh
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 3:54 PM

    How times have changed…. You did not see Everton players swarm the ref demanding a red, Man U players were in shock….. Rightly so too, you saw these tackles every week and you got on with it…. Its a sending off and a media circus today, but back then it was, ummm football….. Tackles are expected, and was rarely ever cynical…….

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Murray
    Favourite Dave Murray
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:10 PM

    Spot on Graham, sure even Peter Reid protested to the ref on behalf on Moran…..very rare you will see that nowadays.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Fitzpatrick
    Favourite John Fitzpatrick
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 5:46 PM

    Peter Reid actually begged the referee not to send Moran off. Frank Stapleton reverted to emergency centre half and had a stormer. Peter Willis was the referee and it was his last ever match to officiate. He was looking to make a name for himself. Years later the F.A. Stopped referees officiating in their last ever match in the cup finals.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
    Favourite Dave O'Hanlon
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 6:33 PM

    ‘With United down to 10, Everton took them to extra-time’, shouldn’t that be United took Everton to extra-time as the Toffees were just crowned league champions you know.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spoddgy
    Favourite Spoddgy
    Report
    May 19th 2015, 6:04 AM

    Also had more league titles than United! And had just won the cup winners cup beforehand!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Higginbotham
    Favourite David Higginbotham
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 6:52 PM

    Moran’s wasn’t allowed receive a winners medal that day either .

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Ross
    Favourite Graham Ross
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:39 PM

    Forget the tackle. He’d get 6 months now for pulling & dragging out of the ref in protesting his innocence! Although he didn’t quite get to Di Canio levels…

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Kelly
    Favourite Colm Kelly
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Unusually it was an intercept of Paul McGraths pass that led to Kevin having to make the lunge.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Logue
    Favourite Andrew Logue
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Suberb tackle won the ball cleanly. Football is being destroyed these days by cheating, diving and every second tackle being either a yellow or red. Games these days are often decided by which team has a player sent off its a complete joke

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Kavanagh
    Favourite Graham Kavanagh
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 7:30 PM

    Lol, everyone had common sense comments today till that…. Thought we might have a good thread…..

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Carino
    Favourite David Carino
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 3:48 PM

    Badly timed don’t think tackles back then were cynical or malicious as they are today .

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute dontletitslip
    Favourite dontletitslip
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 5:34 PM

    A proper challenge that! :D

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Goldberg
    Favourite Goldberg
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 5:46 PM

    Big Ron would have referred to the tackle as a ‘reducer’

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carlos Bandanas
    Favourite Carlos Bandanas
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 10:48 PM

    This may be an urban myth and I am well open to correction but is it true that the first person to be sent off in the FA Cup final (Kevin Moran) and the first player to be sent off in the Premier League (Niall Quinn) both went to the same school (Drimnagh castle)??

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mark
    Favourite mark
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 9:53 PM

    If memory serves me, I was seven at the time, kevin Moran didnt get a winners medal on the day after his red card. He only received it after a campaign on his behalf.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Rooney (TIPM)
    Favourite Mick Rooney (TIPM)
    Report
    May 18th 2015, 11:53 PM

    Bit misleading. Why would you be considered the most cynical player in FA Cup Final history just because you were the first to be sent off in one? Moran was a tough ‘no prisoners’ player, but he was never cynical in his playing days.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute breandan
    Favourite breandan
    Report
    May 19th 2015, 3:35 AM

    If it was today Reid would be gone for simulation…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Clarke
    Favourite Peter Clarke
    Report
    May 19th 2015, 8:54 AM

    Most cynical ever? The writer obviously doesn’t remember Willie Young in 1980! Only a yellow too. I think that was the tackle that prompted the introduction of the straight red for a professional foul.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal Ring
    Favourite Donal Ring
    Report
    May 19th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Good article Will, still very few being sent off in big games- Lehmens in 06 CL final, Reyes in 05 FA cup final-can’t think of any others. A few in World cup finals- two Argentinians in 1990, Desailly, Heitinga

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.