Quirke withdraws from Kerry panel

Michéal Quirke has played his last match for Kerry this year, following his decision to step down from Jack O'Connor's squad.

A statement issued by the Kerry County Board confirmed that the 6ft 7in midfielder has "removed himself from the panel for the remainder of the Championship due to a series of niggling injuries, which have curtailed his game-time, and his ongoing personal commitments".

Quirke, who made his Championship bow back in 2004, was not involved in the Kingdom's All-Ireland quarter-final win over Limerick last Sunday, but made three substitute appearances during their successful Munster SFC campaign.

He replaced Seamus Scanlon in the 26th minute of their opening victory over Tipperary back in May, and came on for Bryan Sheehan around the hour mark in both of the subsequent wins over Limerick and Cork.

Quirke's wife gave birth to twin boys earlier this year. A Kerry source told the Irish Examiner: "(His stepping down) had been on the cards for a while.

"He wasn't getting the game-time he wanted because the injuries were holding him back, and would have had a heart-to-heart with Jack (O'Connor)."