The Cork footballers have lost a second experienced defender in as many days after Anthony Lynch opted to retire from the inter-county game.
Lynch’s long-time Rebels team-mate John Miskella had already confirmed his departure from Conor Counihan’s options this week, and now Naomh Aban’s Lynch, 33, has joined him in calling time on his county team involvement.
Corner back Lynch has suffered badly with injury in recent years, but last year earned Celtic cross at the fourth attempt after the Rebels beat Down in the All-Ireland final.
He had also played in the final defeats to Meath in 1999 and Kerry in 2007 and 2009.
It was in that 1999 season that Lynch came to national prominence as he claimed an All-Star in his side’s run to the final, the loss to the Royal County preventing them from claiming a rare hurling and football double.
He has been a mainstay in the Cork team ever since as the team went through a couple of years of transition, before becoming a force again throughout the second half of the first decade of the 21st century - ultimately leading to their Sam Maguire success last year.
As well as Lynch’s All-Ireland medal from last year the defender has won five Munster medals and three National Leagues, while having also Ireland in the International Rules series in 2002 and 2005 and regularly lining out for Munster in the Railway Cup. He also has one medal from the latter and bagged a second All Star in 2002.