Ciaran McManus hangs up the Faithful jersey

[Croí na hÉireann]

Born a few miles the wrong side of the tracks and loved nothing better than a win over Westmeath. Gave great service to Offaly and was the heartbeat of the team for the last 15 years. Probably right to call it quits at 34 the way the game is going. That famous engine has run its inter county course I feel although I've no doubts it'll keep ticking over for Tubber for years to come.

[heffo]

Born a few miles the wrong side of the tracks and loved nothing better than a win over Westmeath.

He went to school in the Marist in Athlone didn't he?

[ross4life]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

[spuds]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

In fairness O'Neill was not in his class nor did he have anything near the length of servitude to his county.

[ross4life]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

In fairness O'Neill was not in his class nor did he have anything near the length of servitude to his county.

On his day Shaq held his own v the best midfielders, i agree with your last bit but who wouldn't.

[spuds]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

In fairness O'Neill was not in his class nor did he have anything near the length of servitude to his county.

On his day Shaq held his own v the best midfielders, i agree with your last bit but who wouldn't.

IMO O'Neill was a brute of a young lad when he broke through on the Ross team, people thought that he would hold the middle at county level for years to come. He never really developed his game and I only ever remember him playing in short bursts and then disappearing. A huge loss to Ross as they were struggling at MF during the years when he was expected to be at his prime.

[orchard 8195]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

In fairness O'Neill was not in his class nor did he have anything near the length of servitude to his county.

On his day Shaq held his own v the best midfielders, i agree with your last bit but who wouldn't.

IMO O'Neill was a brute of a young lad when he broke through on the Ross team, people thought that he would hold the middle at county level for years to come. He never really developed his game and I only ever remember him playing in short bursts and then disappearing. A huge loss to Ross as they were struggling at MF during the years when he was expected to be at his prime.

What is the story there? booze, woman etc or injuries? he couldnt be any more than 28 yet.

[ross4life]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

In fairness O'Neill was not in his class nor did he have anything near the length of servitude to his county.

On his day Shaq held his own v the best midfielders, i agree with your last bit but who wouldn't.

IMO O'Neill was a brute of a young lad when he broke through on the Ross team, people thought that he would hold the middle at county level for years to come. He never really developed his game and I only ever remember him playing in short bursts and then disappearing. A huge loss to Ross as they were struggling at MF during the years when he was expected to be at his prime.

Well you probably remember him for his debut season (01 when he was only 19), by 2003 he had developed his game & one of the highlights of the Offaly v Roscommon qualifier game was the midfield duel between the two. Since then injuries & weight issues cut his inter county career short.

Anyways enough about Seamus O'Neill, happy retirement to Ciaran McManus.

[muppet]

Best of luck to him. Scored screamers, nearly scored screamers but always brought the game to the opposition.

For me he was one of those midfielders you always kept an eye out for, mainly out of pure respect, like Dermot McCabe, both Dermot Earlys, Liam Austin, Plunkett Donaghy etc.

[spuds]

Ciaran McManus had some great battles with Seamus 'Shaq' O'Neill was worth the admission fee alone. A great loyal midfield warrior! unfortunately a dying breed of the game.

In fairness O'Neill was not in his class nor did he have anything near the length of servitude to his county.

On his day Shaq held his own v the best midfielders, i agree with your last bit but who wouldn't.

IMO O'Neill was a brute of a young lad when he broke through on the Ross team, people thought that he would hold the middle at county level for years to come. He never really developed his game and I only ever remember him playing in short bursts and then disappearing. A huge loss to Ross as they were struggling at MF during the years when he was expected to be at his prime.

Well you probably remember him for his debut season (01 when he was only 19), by 2003 he had developed his game & one of the highlights of the Offaly v Roscommon qualifier game was the midfield duel between the two. Since then injuries & weight issues cut his inter county career short.

Anyways enough about Seamus O'Neill, happy retirement to Ciaran McManus.

Seen him play more than his first year but you're right not the place for this.

Ciaran McManus was always one of the names to look out for when Offaly played, same as Niall McNamee now I suppose.

[thejuice]

bloody great player. He also represented Ireland really well in the Aussie Rules when it was a spectacle.

will be missed but Offaly have a group of good lads there though.

[michael d]

a good and honest player who played thru a barren spell with great pride

[Dangleberrys]

He'll be back in Feb I'd say so I reckon this may be premature