McCarthy opts out of Kerry panel

MIKE McCARTHY won’t be part of the Kingdom’s Championship bid for 2011, it has emerged.

The Kilcummin man has informed coach Jack O’Connor that’s he is packing up inter-county football – and this time, the retirement is permanent.

The 32-year-old defender retired after the 2006 All-Ireland winning campaign but returned in dramatic circumstances at O’Connor’s behest last year to steady Kerry’s defence en route to their September 2009 success against Cork.