How do players know when it’s time to retire?

Former stalwarts Pádraig Walsh and Benny Heron open up on the highs and lows that come with their decisions to leave the inter-county scene behind

Pádraig Walsh during his playing days with Kilkenny. Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Michael Verney

It’s never easy to cut the cord on something that has been such an integral part of your life for more than a decade, but time waits for no man or woman and inter-county careers cannot go on forever.

The months of pre-season would hardly be missed while the luxury of being able to tuck into the Christmas trimmings without any degree of guilt is another bonus – but things start changing around this time of the year.