Post by bigbrother on Apr 10, 2007 5:59:27 GMT
Article from Irish examiner. All the best Eamon and thanks for the memories.
KERRY coach Pat O’Shea last night suffered another major defensive blow with the retirement of three time All-Ireland winner Eamon Fitzmaurice.
O’Shea who has already had to deal with the loss of Seamus Moynihan and Mike McCarthy was informed yesterday by the 29-year-old Finuge man of his decision to quit the county panel.
However Fitzmaurice insisted that there were no sour grapes or ill feelings on his part.
He explained yesterday: “I set myself a target that by the end of the NFL, I would be in a position to nail down the centre back spot. That didn’t happen for different reasons and it hasn’t worked out.
“So I think that it was the time to go.”
Fitzmaurice considered retiring after last year’s All-Ireland final victory over Mayo — a game which he appeared in as a late substitute.
“When I decided to come back I wanted to get back in the team and help Kerry anyway I could. But the fairytales doesn’t work out for everyone. Seamus Moynihan came back last year and won a league, an All-Ireland and an All-star but it didn’t work out for me and that is the way it goes. I have no regrets.”
He continued: “The highlights would have been in 2000 when I won my first All-Ireland. 2004 was pretty special as well after coming back to win the League, the Munster championship and an All-Ireland after a tough 2003. The games which stand out were the two battles with Dublin in Thurles in 2001, and with Armagh the year before.’’
Fitzmaurice informed manager Pat O’Shea of his decision yesterday and stressed that there was no ill feelings.
“I have a good relationship with Pat and he knew where I was coming from. He knew that it wasn’t a rash decision and that I had thought it through logically. He would have preferred if I had stayed on. There are no sour grapes and I wish him and the lads the very best for the year ahead.”
He believes Kerry have ‘a great chance’ of becoming the first team since Cork in 1990 to win back to back All-Ireland SFC titles.
“It is a very difficult thing to do. But the changes and new faces on the team are a positive. I think sometimes when you win an All-Ireland you can be too loyal to players regardless of form. But with all the new lads coming in like Padraig Reidy and Darren O’Sullivan there are more and more options. They bring the freshness, hunger and obsession that you need to win.
“I had the hunger but I’m not sure if I had the obsession of a few years ago.”
But the decision doesn’t mean an end to his football days.
“While it will be a wrench leaving the Kerry set up I am looking forward to giving Finuge something back. When you are playing with Kerry, the club aren’t getting the full whack out of it. Hopefully I have a few good years left.”
The Finuge club man won All-Ireland SFC medals in 2000, 2004 and 2006 since making his championship debut in 1998. He also won two National Leagues, two All-Ireland U21’s and an All-Ireland minor medal.
Fitzmaurice played the majority of his football at centre back with his most memorable display coming in the 2004 decider when he dominated Mayo talisman Ciaran McDonald.
Click here for irishexaminer.com stories before this date
KERRY coach Pat O’Shea last night suffered another major defensive blow with the retirement of three time All-Ireland winner Eamon Fitzmaurice.
O’Shea who has already had to deal with the loss of Seamus Moynihan and Mike McCarthy was informed yesterday by the 29-year-old Finuge man of his decision to quit the county panel.
However Fitzmaurice insisted that there were no sour grapes or ill feelings on his part.
He explained yesterday: “I set myself a target that by the end of the NFL, I would be in a position to nail down the centre back spot. That didn’t happen for different reasons and it hasn’t worked out.
“So I think that it was the time to go.”
Fitzmaurice considered retiring after last year’s All-Ireland final victory over Mayo — a game which he appeared in as a late substitute.
“When I decided to come back I wanted to get back in the team and help Kerry anyway I could. But the fairytales doesn’t work out for everyone. Seamus Moynihan came back last year and won a league, an All-Ireland and an All-star but it didn’t work out for me and that is the way it goes. I have no regrets.”
He continued: “The highlights would have been in 2000 when I won my first All-Ireland. 2004 was pretty special as well after coming back to win the League, the Munster championship and an All-Ireland after a tough 2003. The games which stand out were the two battles with Dublin in Thurles in 2001, and with Armagh the year before.’’
Fitzmaurice informed manager Pat O’Shea of his decision yesterday and stressed that there was no ill feelings.
“I have a good relationship with Pat and he knew where I was coming from. He knew that it wasn’t a rash decision and that I had thought it through logically. He would have preferred if I had stayed on. There are no sour grapes and I wish him and the lads the very best for the year ahead.”
He believes Kerry have ‘a great chance’ of becoming the first team since Cork in 1990 to win back to back All-Ireland SFC titles.
“It is a very difficult thing to do. But the changes and new faces on the team are a positive. I think sometimes when you win an All-Ireland you can be too loyal to players regardless of form. But with all the new lads coming in like Padraig Reidy and Darren O’Sullivan there are more and more options. They bring the freshness, hunger and obsession that you need to win.
“I had the hunger but I’m not sure if I had the obsession of a few years ago.”
But the decision doesn’t mean an end to his football days.
“While it will be a wrench leaving the Kerry set up I am looking forward to giving Finuge something back. When you are playing with Kerry, the club aren’t getting the full whack out of it. Hopefully I have a few good years left.”
The Finuge club man won All-Ireland SFC medals in 2000, 2004 and 2006 since making his championship debut in 1998. He also won two National Leagues, two All-Ireland U21’s and an All-Ireland minor medal.
Fitzmaurice played the majority of his football at centre back with his most memorable display coming in the 2004 decider when he dominated Mayo talisman Ciaran McDonald.
Click here for irishexaminer.com stories before this date