Galway veteran De Paor retires

Veteran Galway footballer Sean Og De Paor has announced his retirement from inter-county football.

The 35-year-old defender, who won All-Ireland medals with the Tribesmen in both 1998 and 2001, has confirmed to Galway manager Peter Ford that he will not be available for selection in 2006.

De Paor, a stalwart of the Carraroe club in Connemara and an All-Star winner in '98 and '01, injured his cruciate ligament in the summer of 2004 and has struggled to recapture his form from wing back.

School teacher De Paor featured just once in Galway's four-game championship run last season.

Shea Walsh, a starter in the 1998 All-Ireland final against Kildare, is also an absentee from the Galway panel for next season.