Meath inter-county stalwart Graham Geraghty has announced his retirement following the county's disappointing exit from this year's Bank of Ireland All-Ireland football championship against Donegal in Croke Park on Sunday. The 29-year-old All Star confirmed his decision on local radio on Monday, citing work and family commitments as his reason for his premature retirement from the game he has graced at the top for almost a decade.
The Royal County would have hoped to call upon the Seneschalstown player for at least another four or five seasons, and at 29 many observers believed his best years were possibly still to come. Geraghty's departure will extend the veil of pessimism that fell across the county after last year's collapse against Galway in the All-Ireland final. The shock of that defeat was perhaps exaggerated by the fact that Meath had destroyed Kerry just weeks previously in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Subsequent defeats to perennial rivals Dublin in this year's Leinster semi-final and Sunday's surprise reversal against Donegal would have heightened the growing gloom in the county, but the Meath selectors will hope that Geraghty can be persuaded to change his mind before next season, as occurred when midfielder John McDermott quit only to return and play an influential role for the county last year.
Filed by Shane Murray
