Lohan ends Clare career

Legendary Clare full-back Brian Lohan has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling, ending his 15-year association with the Banner's senior team.

Lohan, who turns 35 in November, was ever present during the recent championship, with his last appearance coming in the 2-21 to 1-16 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to eventual champions Kilkenny on August 13.

It was one to forget for Lohan as he misjudged the flight of a high ball into the Clare defence and Henry Shefflin swooped on it to grab Kilkenny's first goal after only 75 seconds.

Speculation was rife that the Wolfe Tones clubman would quit after last year's heart-breaking semi-final loss to Cork, but he ploughed on, admitting that he was "happy to continue".

A two-time All-Ireland winner (1995 and 1997), Lohan's final seasons were dogged by injury - the 'red-helmeted one' lost much of the 2004 season to a troublesome hamstring injury.

With a busy auctioneering and financial services business to run and the years catching up on him, it was inevitable that Lohan would bow out - his retirement comes just over three weeks after his former team-mate Anthony Daly's resignation as Clare manager.

Lohan, whose corner back brother Frank is yet to confirm his intentions for next year, won four All-Star awards as one of the game's top defenders, in '95, '96, '97 and 2002.

His collection of honours also includes three Munster SHC titles with Clare, a Fitzgibbon Cup with the University Limerick and one county and one Munster title with his club Wolfe Tones from Shannon.