Derry's Benny Heron has retired from inter-county football after an 11-year career.
The Ballinascreen player was part of the Derry side that won back-to-back Ulster titles in 2022 and 2023, though admitted in an interview with the Irish News this morning that he was struggling with the speed of the game and was taking longer than before to recover between matches.
In a statement, Derry GAA thanked Heron for his decade of service, describing the player as "an ace finisher with an eye for goal, Benny Heron matched talent with an utterly selfless attitude and was one of the most respected footballers in Derry over the past decade.
"The summer of 2022 will be remembered fondly by all Derry supporters with the county claiming its first Ulster title after a 24 year wait. It was a summer when Ballinascreen's Heron dazzled, becoming a hero to the red and white masses on the streets and terraces of Ulster and around Croke Park.
"On behalf of all Derry supporters we would like to sincerely thank Benny for all his efforts and the memories he has given us. Our best wishes are with Benny, his wife Laura and their young family for the future."
A stalwart in the Derry side throughout their startling rise from a Division 4 outfit in 2019 to All-Ireland contenders three years later, Heron had a stellar season in 2022 as the county claimed their first Ulster title in 24 years.
It was during this campaign that he became a folk hero among the Derry support, with Benny Heron masks proliferating on Hill 16 in their semi-final loss to Galway.
He lost his starting place for the 2023 championship, though still featured off the subs bench in Derry's wins over Armagh, Cork and their agonising semi-final defeat to Kerry, in what wound up as his final championship outing.
