Cork's Paudie Kissane retires from inter-county football

All-Ireland winning Cork footballer Paudie Kissane has announced his retirement from the inter-county game.

The 33-year-old, who won an intermediate county title with Clyda Rovers earlier this month, only made his Championship debut at the age of 28, having appeared briefly on the senior county panel in 2002 and 2003.

But in just six seasons, he packed in an impressive haul, claiming an All-Ireland title, three Munster crowns, three Division 1 titles as well as a Division 2 win.

“My dream, since I was a young fella, was to play with Cork and I feel extremely lucky and privileged to have been given that opportunity," Kissane told the Irish Examiner.

“As a player, naturally you always remember some of your disappoint-ments and wish you won more, but I can’t complain, considering what’s been achieved since 2008.”

Kissane has been hugely successful in the red jersey, winning four Munster medals, four Allianz Football League medals in a row (2009, 2010, 2011,2012) and that coveted Celtic Cross in 2010. He also won an All-Ireland Junior title in 2007 and was an All-Star in 2010.

"Our thanks to Paudie for his outstanding contribution to Cork GAA over so many years, and best wishes to him in his future endeavours," said a statement on the Cork GAA website.