WEXFORD DEFENDER KEITH Rossiter has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling.
The long-serving Oulart-The-Ballagh defender, who made his senior debut in 2003, dropped the bombshell news to teammates at training last night.
The 2004 Leinster SHC medallist enjoyed a stellar campaign last season but having discussed his future with Model County boss Liam Dunne, Rossiter has decided to pull the curtain down on a his time in the purple and gold.
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Rossiter, 31, won the Wexford club hurler of the year award in 2012 and is a multiple county SHC winner at club level.
The teak-tough defender suffered a serious spinal injury as an 18-year-old but recovered from that setback to enjoy a successful career.
Wishing Rossi all the best, sad to see him go. Absolute class act on & off the pitch! An honour to play with him, he'll be missed! #Legend
Just two years later, Rossiter was lining out as a Wexford senior hurler for the first time and a rollercoaster season ended with him playing in front of a packed house in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.
The following year saw Rossiter claim his one and only provincial senior medal while the 2007 All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Tipperary was another massive highlight.
Wexford team-mate Andrew Shore paid tribute to Rossiter this morning.
Speaking to The42.ie, Shore admitted: “I was surprised but I had a fair idea as well. He’s only after getting married and he’s been on honeymoon. In that sense, it was probably the right time for him but in the last few years that I’ve been playing with Keith, last year was his best year.
“I thought he was flying and he definitely would have had something more to offer. He will be a massive loss to the set-up and the team. He’s an absolute gent and hard as nails.”
During his time at Waterford IT, Rossiter won three Fitzgibbon Cup medals and he’s also a former Leinster U21 medallist with Wexford.
One of Wexford's longest serving hurlers has retired
WEXFORD DEFENDER KEITH Rossiter has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling.
The long-serving Oulart-The-Ballagh defender, who made his senior debut in 2003, dropped the bombshell news to teammates at training last night.
The 2004 Leinster SHC medallist enjoyed a stellar campaign last season but having discussed his future with Model County boss Liam Dunne, Rossiter has decided to pull the curtain down on a his time in the purple and gold.
Rossiter, 31, won the Wexford club hurler of the year award in 2012 and is a multiple county SHC winner at club level.
The teak-tough defender suffered a serious spinal injury as an 18-year-old but recovered from that setback to enjoy a successful career.
Just two years later, Rossiter was lining out as a Wexford senior hurler for the first time and a rollercoaster season ended with him playing in front of a packed house in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.
The following year saw Rossiter claim his one and only provincial senior medal while the 2007 All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Tipperary was another massive highlight.
Wexford team-mate Andrew Shore paid tribute to Rossiter this morning.
Speaking to The42.ie, Shore admitted: “I was surprised but I had a fair idea as well. He’s only after getting married and he’s been on honeymoon. In that sense, it was probably the right time for him but in the last few years that I’ve been playing with Keith, last year was his best year.
“I thought he was flying and he definitely would have had something more to offer. He will be a massive loss to the set-up and the team. He’s an absolute gent and hard as nails.”
During his time at Waterford IT, Rossiter won three Fitzgibbon Cup medals and he’s also a former Leinster U21 medallist with Wexford.
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