Injury forces Waterford legend McGrath to retire

WATERFORD hurling star Ken McGrath has announced his retirement from the inter-county game at the age of 33.

McGrath, who has been struggling with a knee injury in recent seasons, did not finish Sunday’s Allianz league clash against Cork, and informed his Waterford teammates and management last night of his decision.

“I’m calling it a day,” he said yesterday. “I’ve spoken to my family about it and the body just won’t take it any more.

“It’s nearly a relief at this stage. With the injury for the last couple of years a lot of the good has gone out of it, and with the speed of players nowadays, if you can’t do it physically you’re wasting your time.

“It was a massive decision in one sense, and the lads with the team have been very good to me. But it’s over.”

McGrath was a key figure in the Waterford hurling renaissance of recent years, scoring seven points from play when the Déise won the Munster title in 2002, their first since 1963.

Having starred as a forward in the early part of his career, McGrath was moved by then-Waterford coach Justin McCarthy to anchor the defence at centre-back, where he played for much of the remainder of his career.

Current Waterford boss Davy Fitzgerald played McGrath at full-back in his first games in charge of the county in 2008 before moving him back to centre-back as he brought Waterford to their first All-Ireland final since 1963.

McGrath made his intercounty championship debut against Tipperary as a teenager in 1996, scoring a point as Waterford lost.

He won four Munster championship titles with Waterford, in 2002, 2004 (as captain), 2007 and 2010, and a National League title in 2007, and won All-Star awards in 2002 (as a half-forward), 2004 (at midfield) and 2007 (at centre-back).

McGrath made one All-Ireland senior hurling final appearance, when Kilkenny beat Waterford in 2008.

His father Pat also played for Waterford, and his brother Eoin still does. With his club Mount Sion he won six Waterford county titles.