Saluting Pádraic Joyce: Our pictorial tribute to the retired Galway football legend

38-year-old Joyce has called time on a senior career that began when he was just 15.

PÁDRAIC JOYCE BROUGHT the curtain down on a glittering 23-year career when he lined out for his club Killererin for the last time yesterday.

Joyce, 38, is regarded as one of the greatest forwards of all time and he won two All-Ireland SFC medals with Galway in 1998 and 2001.

Yesterday’s opponents Moycullen paid a lovely tribute to Joyce with a post-match presentation and after making his senior debut as a 15-year-old against Clonbur in 1992, he’s finally reached the end of the line.

Joyce famously came out of retirement last year to help stave off the threat of relegation that had been hovering over Killererin.

But he’s not for turning this time and here, we pay our own pictorial tribute to the ace Tribes attacker:

Padraic Joyce played his last game for Killererin today after a 23 year senior career. True Legend. #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/6jj9PYGccs
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) November 22, 2015

AIB_GAA / Twitter

ROINN 2 A presentation to the great Padraic Joyce by CLG Maigh Cuilinn in his last competitive game. @TribesmenGAA pic.twitter.com/ZMPt7gZRp0
— Maigh Cuilinn (@maighcuilinn) November 22, 2015

CLG Maigh Cuilinn / Twitter

Christy Byrne and Padraic Joyce 27/9/1998 Joyce tackles Kildare goalkeeper Christy Byrne in the 1998 All-Ireland final. Patrick Bolger / INPHO Patrick Bolger / INPHO / INPHO

Padraic Joyce and John Finn 27/9/1998 Patrick Bolger / INPHO Patrick Bolger / INPHO / INPHO

Padraic Joyce, Darragh O'Se, Joe Kernan and Dermot Earley Joyce with fellow Ireland International Rules selectors Darragh Ó Sé, Dermot Earley and manager Joe Kernan. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Mark Quinn tackles Padraic Joyce 9/6/2012 Defeat to Sligo in 2012 marked Joyce's last game in the Connacht senior football championship. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Padraic Joyce In action for Killererin during the 2010 Connacht senior club football final. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Padraic Joyce is tackled by Andy Moran Familiar foes: Joyce enjoyed many huge battles with Mayo. Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO / INPHO

Padraig Joyce and Brendan McGourty New York, New York: In action against the Exiles at Gaelic Park. Peter Marney / INPHO Peter Marney / INPHO / INPHO

Winning: Joyce captained Galway to Connacht SFC glory in 2008. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

©INPHO ©INPHO

Padraig Joyce 24/9/2001 Success: With Sam Maguire in 2001. INPHO INPHO

Padraig Joyce and John O'Mahony September days: Celebrating All-Ireland glory with boss John O'Mahony in 2001. INPHO INPHO

Padraig Joyce and Darren Fay Clash: Joyce collides with Meath's Darren Fay in the 2001 decider. INPHO INPHO

Padraig Joyce Provincial kings: Lifting the Connacht trophy following victory over Leitrim in 2000. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO