Hurdling star Coghlan retires after grant decision

Irish hurdler Peter Coghlan has announced his retirement from athletics after hearing he was one of a number of top Irish athletes cut from the Irish Sports Council’s grants for 2005.

"I have greatly appreciated the support I have always received from friends, family, fellow athletes and the Irish public but the unfortunate reality is that I can no longer afford to train at the level required to compete at the elite end of the sport," 29-year-old Coghlan said in a statement tonight.