- Stephen O’Brien (Kerry)
The Kenmare Shamrocks forward called time on his inter-county career in October. O’Brien departs with two All-Ireland medals, having made over 100 Kerry appearances between league and championship. The 33-year-old was hard-working, pacy and dynamic; his driving runs and point-scoring ability key for the Kingdom since his debut in 2014. Largely used as an impact sub in later years.
- Adrian Spillane (Kerry)
Spillane’s retirement was confirmed alongside O’Brien’s in a warm Kerry GAA statement. The Templenoe man spent six years in the set-up after making his debut in 2019. He clocked 24 championship and 32 league appearances respectively, including the 2022 All-Ireland final win. Spillane came off the bench alongside his brother, Killian, at half-time against Galway.
- Conor Sweeney (Tipperary)
The former Tipperary captain and All-Star forward stepped away in late October, bringing the curtain down on a 15-year senior career. His greatest success arrived in 2020 when he led Tipp to Munster glory for the first time in 85 years, scoring seven points in that victory over Cork, Sweeney was man-of-the-match that day and produced other huge performances in an All-Star winning season. A brilliant player, who saw his last county years disrupted by an ACL injury.
- John O’Rourke (Cork)
O’Rourke is one of three Cork footballers to retire over the winter, while several others have opted out. The Carbery Rangers man made his debut for the Rebels in 2013 and was a constant figure throughout his 12 seasons. “I didn’t want to finish with Cork until we had won something substantial, but it just wasn’t to be,” O’Rourke told The Southern Star as he exited stage left, aged 32.
- Killian O’Hanlon (Cork)
News of O’Hanlon’s retirement arrived alongside that of O’Rourke. The Kilshannig midfielder made his senior inter-county debut in the league in 2016, but didn’t play his first championship minutes until ’18. His final years with Cork were hampered by injury: an ACL tear saw him miss out in 2021 and 2022, while a hamstring injury disrupted his 2024.
- Thomas Clancy (Cork)
Clancy’s departure was announced separately to the others’. The Clonakility defender was another long-serving player, having made his senior championship debut 11 years ago, while his career was also blighted by injury. Clancy featured heavily in his maiden campaign of 2013, but was in and out at times thereafter. He fully rejoined John Cleary’s panel in 2022, but now retires along with O’Rourke and O’Hanlon.
- James McCarthy (Dublin)
One of two Dublin greats to exit the inter-county scene in recent times. McCarthy won an astonishing nine All-Ireland senior medals across a glittering 15-year career, the last of those as captain in 2023. The Ballymun Kickhams legend also landed five All-Stars, 14 Leinster titles, six National League honours and an U21 All-Ireland crown. A Rolls Royce of a midfielder, who will be hugely missed.
- Brian Fenton (Dublin)
The same accolades also apply for Fenton, whose retirement was more of surprise. The two-time Footballer of the Year bowed out two weeks after his long-time midfield partner McCarthy in November. Fenton finishes up aged 31, with seven All-Ireland senior titles, six All-Stars — as well as his 2018 and 2020 Footballer of the Year awards — 10 Leinster championships and four National League honours. Another generational talent.
- Darragh Foley (Carlow)
Foley announced his retirement from Carlow duty in an emotional statement posted on the social media channels of his club, Kilbride, last month, and later, retraced all with The 42. He bows out as Carlow’s all-time top scorer, with 12-433 across 165 competitive appearances in 15 seasons. The stalwart was instrumental in shaping Carlow’s football revival in recent times. A talented soccer player too, who had trials in England.
- Kieran Lillis (Laois)
The versatile Portlaoise star made his championship debut for Laois way back in 2011. He went on to establish himself as a key player and leader, operating on almost every line of the pitch and captaining his county from 2020 to 2022. Lillis finishes up with two Division 4 league titles, having fallen short in the 2024 Tailteann Cup final to Down at Croke Park.
- Chrissy McKaigue (Derry)
One of Derry’s greatest ever. Captain, All-Star, dual diamond. “The time is right,” McKaigue told RTÉ as he called time on his inter-county football career after 15 years in November. The Slaughtneil defender won an All-Star in 2022 at the age of 35, having captained Derry to Ulster glory. A leader and a warrior, McKaigue was a key figure of the team that defended the crown in 2023. Also spent a spell in the AFL with Sydney Swans.
- Rob Hennelly (Mayo)
Hennelly was the last male inter-county player to announce their retirement before Christmas. The 34-year-old Mayo goalkeeper bows out with seven Connacht senior medals and two league titles. He featured in three All-Ireland senior finals and was twice nominated for All-Star awards. Hennelly made his Mayo senior debut in 2011 after helping the county to claim 2009 U21 Connacht glory and contest the 2008 All-Ireland minor final.
- Paul Cribbin (Kildare)
A brilliant servant to Kildare football. Cribbin issued a short and sweet statement confirming his retirement in October after 11 years in white. He made over 100 senior appearances across league and championship from 2013, and was nominated for an All-Star in 2018. The Johnstownbridge man also had a stint in the AFL with Collingwood and represented Ireland in the 2015 International Rules series.
- Tadhg O’Rourke (Roscommon)
O’Rourke played nine seasons for Roscommon, having made his debut against Tyrone in the 2017 National Football League. The Tulsk midfielder racked up 70 appearances in all, and departs as a two-time Connacht and Division 2 league champion. O’Rourke was a leader in primrose and blue, and was vice-captain in 2023 as he overcame a significant Achilles injury. A loss for the Rossies.
- Keelan Cawley (Sligo)
Cawley brought the curtain down on his 14-year senior inter-county career in July. The stalwart defender made over 130 appearances for the Yeats county, having been ever-present since he was first called up by Kevin Walsh in 2009. Coolera man Cawley won a Division 4 league medal in 2023, while his final season came to a close in the Tailteann Cup semi-final defeat to eventual champions Down after extra-time.
Back in time for the autumn internationals… injuries after them maybe?
I’m a Munster fan first and foremost, but I’ll support the other 3 provinces when not playing Munster. There’s just something about this transfer that annoys me. I know we released him, and Kleyn, who has been a linchpin, was chosen, but the amount of spent on Snyman, of which there is not a lot in Munster these days, that could have been used elsewhere still hurts. Irony is, he’ll prob score a hat trick against us in an interpro. Especially with our current leaky defence.
@james joyce: if I was a Munster supporter I probably would be upset too, but looking at it as someone without skin in the game, I don’t see any problem really. First, the start of his injury travails were completely not his fault – POM dropped him in the lineout, and I don’t really see how being injured by a teammate who didn’t do his job should lead to club loyalty. Second, yes, he cost a lot, but it didn’t come from their budget, but from a certain Swiss resident who bankrolled him. In terms of the cost of treatment, last time out Snyman opted to get it done in SA as opposed to by the club. Lastly, he played only a few games for ye, but I 100% believe you wouldn’t have won the URC without him…whatever few games he played, he was immense. That alone for me is ample payback.
@james joyce: Yeah I’m a Leinster fan but I don’t like this signing at all.
@JoeVlogs: first point, JP was nothing to do with Snymans wages. secondly, he had his 2nd surgery through munster. nothing to do with south Africa. munster also funded him to go to San Diego to visit a knee specialist who deals with majority of nfl players who do their ACL. get your facts right.
@Niall English: wouldn’t be like Joe not to be talking out his hole
@james joyce: I can understand where you are coming from. But there is an element of swings and roundabouts. Leinster supporters were up in arms when Kidney abandoned us after 1 year of a 3 year deal to go to Munster. As a neutral though, you could hardly begrudge the man a chance to win European Cups with his home province… and it all worked out for the best in the end. Someone called Snyman a snake the other day – I don’t think that is fair. He wanted a contract with minimum disruption to his family. This deal made sense. The only thing that maybe didn’t make sense was the IRFU forcing him to move. But just like Mathewson, Pienaar, Thorn and Hines before him, there is always logic behind their decisions.
@Niall English: a) it is well reported that it was the 1014 group, which includes yer man, who paid Snyman. Here is an IT article for reference
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/johann-van-graan-activated-release-clause-in-two-year-contract-to-leave-munster-job-1.4755449
b) I’m not saying first, second, or third surgery. I’m saying some of his treatment was in South Africa
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/11/06/munsters-rg-snyman-to-undergo-surgery-in-south-africa-after-another-injury-setback/
And it’s only fair that a club would pay for an injury that happened to a player in the course of playing for his club. Paying top € for a player yet skimping on his treatment, would be a sure fire way to disincentivise any top quality player from joining the club
@Paul Brown: He may be the guy that can get Leinster no.5 – when fit and firing he can be world class and has great ball handling skills. There is a reason why South Africa have continually stuck by him despite his injury woes
@JoeVlogs: Snyman is quality but Munster absolutely would have won the URC without him. Even in the final run of away games he played very little. Injured again after 19 minutes against Glasgow (nothing to do with O’Mahony). Didn’t feature against Leinster. When he did play (as he did in the final for 47-odd minutes) his contributions were unremarkable in the sense that he wasn’t important for any pivotal play in the game (unlike several other players who were vital). He wasn’t in the top 10 most influential players by any shot.
As to the rest, it’s your usual thing of putting the most uncharitable spin on anything Munster-related. Spare me the “someone without skin in the game” shtick, you know well what you’re doing but so does everyone else.
I don’t think he should have been signed, 1 year ( or half year signings ) are a waste. We have 50 players as it is. Still he’s here so we should milk every minute we can from him.
@chris mcdonnell: so you’d rather go into the season with just 3 senior second rows? Plus a 4th who is in year 2 of the academy? That’s a pretty wild take and quite misguided.
@chris mcdonnell: that’s interesting, didn’t you defend the Barrett signing last week?
@brian o’leary: no I don’t think I did. I understand why and he’s signed so I will get behind him but we just don’t need him. We have quality all across our backline as it is.
@Carmine Lorenzo: signing a player for 1 season makes no sense, a player with one of the worst injury profiles in world rugby, he actually arrived injured. we let a fantastic club secondrow in ross molony leave . we also have the likes of Baird and soroka who can play 2nd row but I’d we are so low in secondrow stock, just like our prop situation maybe we need to look at the coaching and future planning from Cullen. 5 outhalves and 3 second rows?
@chris mcdonnell: well fair enough, although getting behind him is kind of the same as defending him. Ultimately there are limitations on niq’s and these have increased over the years, and hopefully will continue to increase as irish rugby gets stronger. Barrett plays 12, and with Aki’s age profile , ireland need to develop options quickly.
@chris mcdonnell: The point though is RG is a tight head lock, Molony a loose head lock, big difference. Ryan sometimes covers THL but really isn’t one, Joe McC would have been the only THL in the squad, we needed another. Baird and Soroaka can cover LHL only, listen to any professional forward and they’ll tell how import having a THL is
@brian o’leary: The Barrett deal has definitely been set up to suit NZ and the player more than Leinster. We just couldn’t resist the temptation and I am not sure many clubs coukd have (there have been lots of these deals in French rugby in the past). Having said that, would Leinster have won their Heineken Cups without Rocky Elsom in 2009 or Brad Thorn in 2012? Plus, young Charlie Tector could learn a tonne from Jordie as he has a similar physique and range of skills. Personally I think that NIQ players should and will only be short term signings going forward. 6 months to a year is the perfect amount of time to have an impact without getting in the way.
@chris mcdonnell: How do you know Snyman won’t get an extension? One year deal makes perfect sense – let an injury prone player play a lot and prove he’s worth a 2 year renewal. Leinster are fully entitled to argue they need the renewal due to a dearth of quality locks. Unfortunately Deeny hasn’t shown anything to prove he’ll be a starting URC quality lock. Furthermore you cite that “Soroka and Baird can play 2nd row.” Baird is now a 6 first and foremost and should be allowed play there and prove he should be the Ireland 6. How many times has Soroka played 2nd row? He’s another 6 who is not a proven 2nd row URC starter type, yet. COT is still academy and Spicer is only 19 or 20 so he’s a year or two away yet.
@Andrew Slazenger: Stop speaking sense! Let’s just bash any NIQ signings without them even having taken to the pitch and also arrogantly think that we’re better off without them.
Release the Kraken!!!!
Given his horrendous injury record, RGS is obviously a very risky signing for Leinster. But sometimes you need something extra special to get you over the line, and Snyman certainly fits the bill in that regard.
It was of course a shame for him and Munster that he was available so little, but they won their first trophy in 9 years when he was available. Would they have done it without him? Would Leinster have lost repeatedly to Wil Skelton had they had RGS?
Dan Carter only played 5 times for Perpignan, yet that season – mostly without him on the field – they won their first Top 14 in 54 years. Brad Thorn only played 8 times for Leinster, but one of those was a winning CL final.
@Brian Corcoran: He’s not risky at all. A one year deal is perfect – if his injury record is bad, he’ll be released and we move on. Will have been totally worth the potential upside. What is more risky is letting two senior second rows leave this summer and replace with just one. Lack of depth there unless Soroka can break through as a 2nd row.
The snake himself
@James Molowney: why is he a snake? Munster released him, he wanted to dtay in Ireland! Would you say the same if he went to Ulster or Connacht?
@James Molowney: Any other insights?
@James Molowney: more money, bigger city to live in, more chance of top level trophy. He’s a smart snake if he’s a snake
I worry about Leinster’s strength in depth.
As Brendan Grace used to say “good luck with dat “.