Retiring Leinster star Dempsey keen to end with Magners title

SHANE HORGAN and Alan Gaffney led the tributes yesterday for Girvan Dempsey who is to retire from professional rugby at the end of the month.

The Terenure full-back won 82 caps for Ireland and has played over twice that many times (174) for Leinster in a career in which he won Magners League, Heineken Cup and Triple Crown honours.

“One of the things Girv and I spoke about in early 2000 was never die wondering, and I don’t think he has,” said Gaffney who has enjoyed two spells coaching with the province.