Ryan O’Dwyer calls time on intercounty days

Ryan O’Dwyer has decided to retire from the intercounty game after representing both his native Tipperary and his adopted Dubs in senior championship action.

Ryan was part of Dublin’s most recent ‘glory days’ when winning a NHL1 title in 2011 and a Leinster SHC in 2013, ending 72 and 52 year famines respectively.

The Kilmacud Crokes clubman was a member of Pat Gilroy’s squad this year and informed the team after their exit from this summer’s championship.

“I said it to the lads I’d soldiered with for the last number of years, I said ‘thanks very much’. They made me feel so welcome coming in because I was taking a big chance. From the very first moment I came in.

“Then I said to the younger lads, the years do pass quick.

“There’s no point in saying ‘we’ll win it next year or we’ll win it the year after’.

“You want to win it now. Don’t be saying ‘well have a good team in two years’ time’.

“That time might never come. You might not play after this year.

“Even though we’ve had some bad times, the good times overshadow all of them.”

Here is Ryan's full statement on his retirement from inter-county hurling:

"I have decided to call it a day on my inter-county career. It was a privilege and an amazing journey with many peaks and valleys along the way. I have great memories from my time as a player and along the way have soldiered and gone to war with some great people. Beginning in 2007 my highlights were being part of teams that won a Munster championship, a Leinster championship and two NHL titles. Along the way I have developed great friendships and have many treasured memories, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Thank you to Babs Keating, Liam Sheedy, Anthony Daly, Richie Stakelum, Ciaran Hetherton, Chris Thompson, Ray Finn, Éamon O’Reilly, Mick Carruth, Johnny McGuirk, Ger Cunningham and Pat Gilroy for their support during my playing career. A special thanks to John Costello, Andy Kettle RIP, Sean Shanley and Fiona Waters for all your help off the field.

A special thank you to Cashel King Cormac’s and Kilmacud Crokes for developing me into the hurler I became.

Playing inter-county hurling or football requires lots of sacrifices and none more so than family. For this I thank my parents John and Bernie, my brothers and sisters and most of all my wife Cliodhna and my children Oisín and Caragh.

I would also like to thank St.MacDaras and Paul Kingston in facilitating me wherever possible and a special mention to Mycro helmets for keeping my head safe and especially CULTEC hurleys for always being at the end of a call to get more hurleys when needed.

I would like to thank the Dublin GAA fans for all your support and encouragement through good times and bad.

Finally I would like to wish Dublin every bit of success that comes their way. I’ll be there shouting you on every step of the journey. Thank you."

On behalf of everyone in Dublin GAA, we would like to offer Ryan our sincere gratitude for his service to his county & wish him all the best in the future.