Tipperary's Conor Sweeney announces retirement from inter-county football

2020; Conor Sweeney of Tipperary celebrates following the Munster SFC final between Cork and Tipperary. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Tipperary's Munster SFC-winning captain Conor Sweeney has retired from inter-county football. 

Sweeney - having made his debut in 2010 - was vital to the county's 2020 Munster final win over Cork, their first title since 1935. 

The Ballyporeen marksman's performances throughout that championship earned him an All-Star that year, while has also won a Munster under-21 medal in 2010. 

34-year-old Sweeney had missed a lot of football of late as he suffered with injury, most notably an anterior cruciate ligament rupture sustained in the final 10 minutes of Tipperary’s Division 3 League loss to Down at Semple Stadium at the start of 2023. 

In a statement, he thanked all involved in Tipperary GAA, his two clubs, the players he went to battle with, and of course, his family. 

“After 15 years playing Senior Football for Tipperary I feel now is the right time to step away and retire from inter-county football. I feel truly honoured and privileged to have represented my county over the last number of years, and I have genuinely loved every minute of my time in the blue and gold (and green and white)...to my clubs, Ballyporeen and Skeheenarinky, thank you for everything that you have done for me since I was a child. 

"The club is where my love of GAA was born and nurtured and for all your support over the years I thank you. I am honoured to be a part of two proud teams for whom the future is bright. 

"I am blessed to be a part of a wonderful community in Ballyporeen and I want to sincerely thank everyone in the village for their loyalty and support throughout the good times and the bad. I was honoured to represent you in the blue and gold over the last number of years.

"To my family, undoubtedly my biggest supporters, I would never have reached the standards I did without your support and backing. 

"To my parents, Mike and Bernie thank you for steering me in the right direction, knowing you had my back no matter what the circumstances meant everything to me, thank you for everything. To my siblings, Gemma, Mikey and Amy, thank you also for always supporting me throughout my time playing for Tipp.

"To my wife Shauna, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to become the player I did. You have been with me throughout my entire career and your loyalty and unwavering support made it possible for me to have the career I did. 

"Your commitment and sacrifice made it possible for me to do what I loved for so long. To yourself and Connie, thank you."

He added: "Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge two people that are no longer with us, but whom had a massive impact on me throughout my career. 

"The late Liam Kearns and Pat O’Callaghan. Liam as everyone will know was a previous manager and an excellent one at that, and Pat was the groundsman in Coolmore Morris Park since I started training there as a 16-year-old. Two people who are and will continue to be greatly missed by all who knew them."

Sweeney's statement can be read in-full on the Tipperary GAA website.