Retirements

[ONeill]

hard work, diligence, and risk free football - they're not the things that should denote a player as a player of the year candidate.

This is a really good point. A POTY candidate should be lazy, slack and takes loads of risks. Loved those days.

[Orior]

Conor Meyler. Career badly hampered by injury so was fleeting. But was excellent in 2021 and perhaps should have got player of the year.

Conor was the only Tyrone player that I liked watching. Such a shame with the injuries.

[tonto1888]

Glad he wont be lining out against us anymore. Very good player. Shame injury robbed him so much

[Blowitupref]

Kieran Martin has brought a curtain down on his 16-year inter-county football career with Westmeath.

He secured his place in the annals of Westmeath football when he scored 2-3 in the Lake County's historic Leinster SFC semi-final victory over neighbours Meath in 2015. He also came off the bench to score the winning goal in the inaugural Tailteann Cup final against Cavan in 2022. Martin's other honours include League Division 3, 4 and O'Byrne Cup medals, while he was nominated for an All-Star in 2015.

The 35-year-old has also represented his county in senior hurling.

[seafoid]

Bevan Duffy retires after over a decade with Louth

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1208/1547833-duffy-retires-after-over-a-decade-with-louth/

[Main Street]

In contrast to some of our neighbors, Monaghan men such as Darren Hughes and Karl O'Connell would arise from a career deathbed  to put the county shirt on just one more time. Darren was the first this year to retire aged 38, then came fleet of foot Karl O'Connell retired age 37.  The 3rd to retire Kieran Duffy, a young pup by Monaghan retirement standards at aged just 35.  When their time comes may these men of farney iron be buried with their shirt on.

[Blowitupref]

Niall Kelly Kildare.

As a 19-year-old, Niall made his Kildare Senior Football debut in a winning O'Byrne Cup Final against Dublin. He went on to make 101 appearances in all competitions, his last coming against Fermanagh in last summer's Tailteann Cup semi-final. He scored a total of 14 goals and 138 points during his Senior career. One highlight was a classy goal against Cork in a Round 4 Qualifier victory in Semple Stadium in 2015.

Niall won an Under 21 Leinster Championship in 2013 and it is fitting that his final year with Kildare ended with Tailteann Cup victory in 2025. He also won a Sigerson Cup with UCD in 2016 and three Kildare Senior Football Championships with his club, Athy, in 2011, 2020 and more recently in 2025.

Popular with his fellow Club and County players, we wish Niall all the very best for the next chapter in his life.

Niall would like to sincerely thank his family, club and everyone involved in Kildare GAA for their unwavering support throughout his career.

[jb77]

Patrick McBrearty

[Blowitupref]

Patrick McBrearty

From the Irish Examiner

Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty has been forced to retire from inter-county football due to injury, the county has confirmed.

In a statement, Donegal say "the decision was reached on medical advice given the sustained recurrence of a knee injury which has hindered the CLG Chill Chartha clubman in recent seasons".

McBrearty won his seventh Ulster title last season, a record for a Donegal footballer. He has one All-Ireland medal and represented Ireland on three occasions in international rules. He played 167 times for Donegal, 82 of those in championship.

Paying tribute, County Board chairperson, Mary Coughlan said "Patrick has had an extraordinary career and has set the bar extremely high for the next generation. He's been a tremendous ambassador for Donegal GAA and has carried himself with dignity both on and off the field. His retirement leaves a great void, but the player has been plagued by injury in recent seasons.

"Of course, we must also remember that Patrick joined an elite group back in 2011 when he played county minor and senior championship football on the same day in Ballybofey against Antrim while still a secondary school student in Carrick. It is fitting that leaves with a record haul of medals and since being appointed captain in 2022, he has always led by example and worn the county jersey with fierce pride and distinction."

[Armagh18]

Some talent and some servant, and a pain in the hole for us manys a day. Best wishes to him.

[Franko]

A bit mad that he never won an All-star?

[imtommygunn]

He tended to come off the bench more. You could definitely see the mobility had been lost a lot this last few years.

Very good player. Niblock tweeted one of the greatest ever. That's probably a bit hyperbolic but he was definitely very good.

[trueblue1234]

He always looked like he never got the chance to hit the top gear. You could see the ability and class there but just never enough of it to be truly top class. I know that sounds negative but it's not meant to be. Just lacked the consistency to be at that top tier. But suffered a fair bit with injuries that would have impacted that. He'll be a loss to Donegal, had some big late scores.

[gallsman]

He tended to come off the bench more. You could definitely see the mobility had been lost a lot this last few years.

Very good player. Niblock tweeted one of the greatest ever. That's probably a bit hyperbolic but he was definitely very good.

Niblock a bit hyperbolic?! No way! In fairness, he has an awful lot of medals in his back pocket.

Injuries wrecked him and he has a lot of miles on the clock for a fella who's only 32. Slowed down quite noticeably the last couple of years in particular and when you see younger lads like Gallen look far more mobile, I guess now's the right time for him to call it a day. Didn't he famously play Ulster championship minor and senior on the same day?

[imtommygunn]

I think that was the day Antrim beat them yeah.

The knee has clearly been impeding him for a few years now.