Dublin forward Robertson announces retirement

Versatile Dublin forward Ian Robertson has confirmed his retirement from inter-county football, owing to injury.

The 29-year-old’s last championship appearance came in the 2004 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat to Kerry, when Tommy Lyons was in charge of the Dubs.

A member of the Ballymun Kickhams club, Robertson’s career has been hampered by a series of injuries - including a career-threatening knee injury in 2001 and a troublesome calf complaint that required two operations in 2004. He started back training with the Dublin panel last year, but failed to make an appearance in their summer run to the Leinster SFC title.

Robertson began his career as a defender, captaining a Dublin minor team that included Ciaran Whelan and Jason Sherlock to Leinster MFC glory in 1994.

Having impressed at Under-21 level, Robertson made his senior championship debut under Mickey Whelan, lining out at full-back against Meath in 1997. During Tommy Carr’s reign, he hit the heights when scoring 1-01 late on against Laois in the 1999 Leinster SFC semi-final. That haul earned the Dubs a draw - they won the replay, but fell to Meath in the decider.

Meanwhile, current Dublin manager Paul Caffrey had added forward Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) and midfielder Ross McConnell (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh) to his training panel. The 21-year-old McConnell won the Sigerson Cup with Dublin last weekend.

Former Dublin goalkeeper John O’Leary has taken on a coaching role with the junior footballers of the Ballykelly club in Kildare.

O’Leary, who has had spells managing the Wicklow senior footballers and the Dublin ladies football team in recent seasons, is to act as a coaching advisor.

The Ballykelly players will continue to be trained by Brendan Domican and managed by John Cullen.