Ciarán Kilkenny last week announced his retirement from inter-county football. The announcement came the day after Dubin’s loss to Kerry in the All-Ireland football semi-final. The Castleknock clubman won eight All-Ireland titles, 13 Leinster titles and six National League medals in a glittering 15-year career in the sky blue. The 33-year-old won six All-Stars during his playing career, having turned down a three-year contract with Australian Football League side Hawthorn in early 2013. Kilkenny said: "It has been the greatest honour of my life to play for Dublin, a dream I've had since childhood. When I turned down the opportunity to play professional sport in Australia, it was because I knew that representing my club and county would always mean more to me. I could never have imagined how rewarding that decision would be. I have been fortunate and privileged to share a dressing room with so many legends of the game and I have made brothers for life.’’ Kilkenny's career coincided with Dublin’s greatest ever era in Gaelic football.
