End of an era as Fitzhenry bows out

IT HAPPENS every year at around this time, another retirement announcement as an aging warrior hears the irresistible call of Father Time, but the news that Wexford goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry is about to hang up his boots will come as a major disappointment to all hurling supporters.

One of the sport’s true characters, Damien was one of that rare breed who could be as effective at one end of the pitch as at the other; the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Limerick in 2001 is one example, when he came up field to score two goals from placed balls, then again in 2007 when he saved at one end, scored at the other, to help eliminate hotly-fancied Tipperary.

He was still playing well, had another good year last year, but, he says, enough is enough. “You’re not in your prime at 36 years of age in inter-county hurling, it takes a lot more work to get to the required levels. I had been thinking about it for the last few months. I made my mind up, went to Colm Bonnar (Wexford manager) last Thursday night and told him — that was it.”