Jason Forde to weigh up Tipperary future

Forde said the appetite to continue playing at inter-county level still exists but there are "a lot of different conversations that have to happen"

Three-time All-Ireland winner Jason Forde has been part of the Tipperary panel since 2013. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Jason Forde would "love to stay going" with the Tipperary hurlers next year but admitted no decision has been made on his inter-county future.

The 32-year-old, who has been part of the Tipperary senior set-up since 2013, has won three All-Ireland medals. He played in three of Tipperary's four Munster SHC games this year as they failed to progress to the All-Ireland series. He also started last year's All-Ireland final victory over Cork, scoring two points. 

"I suppose when you get past 30, I think every year at the end of every season you're kind of reflecting and seeing what went well in the year, maybe what didn't go so well," Forde told BBC podcast The GAA Social.

"There's other factors that come into it - your life situation at home and things like that. There'll be a few conversations to be had. No definitive decision made yet.

"You're going to go back and play with the club. See how the body is. See how that goes. It'll probably be once that finishes that you'll really sit down and try and talk through it and make a decision.

"I'd love to stay going. That's the honest answer with you. But as I said there's a lot of different conversations that have to happen before you get to that point."

Forde, who first played minor for Tipperary in 2009, added that "the appetite will always still be there". 

"You're kind of just in that setup from that age all the way through," said the Silvermines man. 

"Maybe there's a bit of fear around that as well. That when you do step outside of it, you don't really know anything different.

"Once you get past 30 there's definitely less years in front of you than there is behind you.

"You would think about that and as that's going to be difficult I suppose to navigate when you do come to that point. Because it is such a massive part of your life and there's the routine of it as well.

"When it does come to an end you have the club as well that you go back to. Hopefully if the body says right, I'll have that for a few years. There's been certain players who have had to retire on medical grounds and stuff and never got a chance to go back and finish out with their club."