Joe Higgins Retired

[Dinny Breen]

Surprised this hasn't been posted, my favourite Laois player of recent vintage and always a thorn in Kildare's side but played the game hard and fair, big loss for Laois

Joe Higgins has confirmed his retirement from inter-county football following his appointment as Laois' new ladies football manager last week.

The 2003 All-Star corner back, who represented his country in the International Rules series, had retired from inter-county football before, only to be coaxed back. But this time it's for definite.

The 30-year-old said the prospect of needing a hip replacement before he was 40 if he continued playing was the biggest factor in his decision. However, he hopes to line out for his club St. Joseph's for one more year at least.



Admitting that the past few years had been difficult for him, the 2003 Leinster SFC medallist told the Leinster Express: "Corner back was my position and my game was all about pace.

"I didn't like admitting it at the time, but I did lose a yard or two of pace and that made it a lot more difficult. County football is all about pace now and if you're struggling there, you're going to be in trouble.

"I had a groin operation last year in the sports clinic in Santry and Dr Eanna Falvey there diagnosed me with arthritis in my hips and if I kept playing I'd need replacements in a couple of years. Obviously I'm going to have to have that work done at some stage but I'd like to put it off for as long as possible and my best chance of doing that is to stop playing."

Higgins says he is looking forward to the challenge of managing the Laois ladies in 2010 after replacing Brendan Hayden in the role.

"I had always considered getting into management and although it's probably a bit sooner than I thought, I'm looking forward to giving it all I can."

[Donnellys Hollow]

Surprised this hasn't been posted, my favourite Laois player of recent vintage and always a thorn in Kildare's side but played the game hard and fair, big loss for Laois

Well said Dinny. Excellent little corner-back and a credit to his club and county. There'll be many forwards around Leinster that will be glad to see the back of him.

[screenexile]

Of course he's a great footballer sure he's a Derryman!!!!

Very disappointed to hear this he was an all action classy player and I thought he was excellent for Laois over the years... they could to with a few more lads of his ilk coming through. Best of luck to him.

[Hardy]

They say he was as good a snooker player as the brother.

[Estimator]

They say he was as good a snooker player as the brother.

Which brother?

[Bud Wiser]

Thanks to Joe, a great warrior and also a good amateur boxer.  Joe will probably remembered, not for having his twin sons parade in Croke Park for the Leinster Final, but for HQ throwing the book at him for bringing a bit of local tradition to the place and then imposing a fine of something like 300€ on him for doing so, which if I remember was paid by Gerry Ryan.  Can you just imagine, a captain wanting to do such a thing at a time when the games are going professional and the upset of corporate sponsors has to be considered ! 

But Joe did Laois proud and was one of the best corner backs I have seen play so I wish him well as I am sure will all who played against him. 

[Puckoon]

They say he was as good a snooker player as the brother.

Which brother?

Duh.

Joe Swail.

[Dubh driocht]

Great footballer, wish he'd been born in Mourne rather than Laois but a fine exponent of the under-rated ( particularly in our county) art of defending.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

The best to Joe. An excellent exponent of the very difficult art of lethal, precision, and powerful defending. Very, very easy for the neutral (more times than not for me) to sit back and appreciate the harrier's superlative art, and on the odd occasion I was neither a neutral nor an ally, but all's fair in love and Gaelic football. Slán a Chara.

[The Real Laoislad]

Great footballer and nice fella,he was in my class in secondary school
Sorry to see him go