Jackie Tyrrell confirms Kilkenny hurling fans’ worst fears about his future

The end might be near for one of the best inter-county corner-backs of all time.

It's not even a month since Kilkenny claimed yet another All-Ireland title at the expense of Galway, but it seems that a legend of the game may be about to quit his role with the Stripey Men. Jackie Tyrrell missed the All-Ireland semi-final win over Waterford after breaking a bone in his foot, while he was an unused sub in the All-Ireland victory over Galway. Last season Kilkenny lost a host of All-Ireland winners including Brian Hogan, Henry Shefflin and Tommy Walsh and it now seems that the James Stephens man could be about to follow his ex-team-mates out the dressing room door. Earlier this week he spoke to Beat 102-103 at the Ploughing Championships where he hinted that he may be thinking of hanging up his boots under Brian Cody, and today chatting to his local radio station KCLR 96fm, the 9-time All-Ireland winner admitted that retirement is very much in his mind.

"What I said down at the ploughing match is that it’s definitely in my head at the minute, I’m thinking it up as I say, you know, the age profile, injuries, things like that. I would be foolish to think that it’s not a possibility this year you know, it is a young man’s game." "I’m not saying I am retiring, I’m just saying that I’m very much thinking about it.”

Tyrrell also revealed that he has a bit to do yet to recover fully from the broken bone in his foot tht ruled hi m out of the latter stages of the All-Ireland series

“Yeah it’s good, another couple of weeks I hope to be nearly there. I have to go back to the consultant and have a look at it again. He said he might have to go back in, hopefully he doesn’t, but if it’s knitted back sufficiently he’ll be happy, then it’s just a matter of minding it for another couple of weeks and I’ll be back full whack again.”