Barry Cahill

[Declan]

A fella I always had a lot of time for and who I thought got a raw deal last year but thanks for the memories Barry - And a sound fella as well. Interesting what he says about it being a young mans game. Not a bad three opponents either  

VERSATILE Dublin footballer Barry Cahill (31) has called time on his inter-county career but will still continue to line out for St Brigid's.

"To be successful at inter-county level – the training and everything that goes with it – it has to be your priority in life and it's just not quite my priority anymore," Cahill (right) admitted. "It has been for the last 11-and-a-half years but, at the end of last year, I felt I'd lost a small bit of motivation, and if you're not 100pc committed to it, you don't have any chance of being successful."

He estimates that inter-county training now involves 25 hours per week and is best suited to young men and students.

"After we got beaten by Mayo last year it was in the back of my mind, but instead of making a decision straight away I just decided to hold off for a few months to get my head right and be 100pc certain about it," he said.

An All Star in 2007, Cahill made his Dublin senior debut in 2001, played at corner-back on his first championship start and lined out mostly in the half-back line during a career that saw him amass eight Leinster senior medals.

But he was a particularly adaptable player and lined out at centre half-forward when the Dubs beat Kerry in the 2011 All-Ireland final.

He cited Tyrone's Brian McGuigan, Mayo's Ciaran McDonald and Kerry's Paul Galvin as the toughest opponents he ever faced.

[Hardy]

I always thought Dublin failed to get full value from a footballer of his calibre. I thought he should have been played at midfield, where his speed, stamina and powerful running could have been deployed to much better effect than as a defender. Best of luck to him.

[heffo]

Still has so much to offer as a player and was wanted very much by the new mgt but he felt the time was right.

Top class player since 2002 (I don't remember featuring at senior level in 2001 as per the article)

The only time I remember him getting skint was by Dessie Dolan in 2004

Very modest fella - best of luck in retirement.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Still has so much to offer as a player and was wanted very much by the new mgt but he felt the time was right.

Top class player since 2002 (I don't remember featuring at senior level in 2001 as per the article)

The only time I remember him getting skint was by Dessie Dolan in 2004

Very modest fella - best of luck in retirement.

And that was no fault of his own really as he was never a corner back but that was the thinking ten years ago, you earned your stripes in the corner, no matter if you were suited to it or not. A natural half back and one of the best around.

[Gael85]

Still has so much to offer as a player and was wanted very much by the new mgt but he felt the time was right.

Top class player since 2002 (I don't remember featuring at senior level in 2001 as per the article)

The only time I remember him getting skint was by Dessie Dolan in 2004

Very modest fella - best of luck in retirement.

he made his championship/league debut in 2002,played O'Byrne Cup in late 2011 when O'Byrne Cup used to be played before Christmas