An era has ended in Offaly with the retirement of Brian Whelahan. The decision isn't unexpected and means that last year's Leinster hurling final against Wexford was his last appearance for the county.
Offaly manager John McIntyre last night informed the senior players and, compounding the bad news, also announced the decision of dual player Neville Coughlan to leave the hurling panel to concentrate on football.
Whelahan, 34 next August, made his senior debut while still a minor in the 1989 All-Ireland semi-final and is widely acknowledged to have been one of the great players of the modern era and was the only modern player to have been selected for hurling's Team of the Millennium in 2000.
Although his favourite position was wing back, his talent, ability to read games and big-match temperament made him versatile and when he won All-Irelands with Offaly in 1994 and '98, he was switched very effectively to centre back and into the forwards, respectively.
"He's one of the outstanding hurlers of all time," said McIntyre last night, "never mind the modern age, with a tremendous big-day pedigree. We were looking at giving him a non-defensive role for his consideration. But he knows best how he's feeling and in recent times he's been more injury prone.
"It's the end of era. Brian was the jewel in Offaly's crown for 15 years and a great servant of the county. The All-Irelands of 1994 and '98 wouldn't have been won without him."
Those titles were the pinnacle of a glittering career that also saw him win an All-Ireland minor title, as captain, in 1989, a National Hurling League in 1991, three Leinster senior medals - 1990, '94 and '95 - and two Hurler of the Year awards in 1994 and '98.
Whelahan's career at club level was equally distinguished and he played in all four of Birr's record-breaking haul of All-Ireland titles. He also won three All Stars, 1992, '98 and '99 plus a Players' All Star in 1995. He should have won another in 1994, but, despite being Hurler of the Year, was omitted in the most controversial gaffe of the scheme's history.
The news is a setback for Offaly, who are currently in Division Two of the National Hurling League and at the mercy of other results if they are to be promoted, and are drawn to play Kilkenny in this year's championship.
"I'm really sorry to see him go," says McIntyre, "but understand his thinking that any comeback would be of a stop-gap nature because Offaly are in a period of transition. That rebuilding process will take time and Brian knows realistically that he won't be around in three years' time. I felt this decision was one that was always coming.
"But it's still a big blow now, coupled with Neville Coughlan's decision to concentrate on football. It's made a hard job harder and after seeing what Kilkenny did to Wexford at the weekend, there's a lot of trepidation about playing them in the championship."
Whelahan's brothers Simon and Barry also won All-Irelands in 1998. Barry is due back in training after an operation, but Simon isn't involved with the panel this year.
Coughlan had played with the hurlers in the past two championships and coincidentally replaced the injured Whelahan in last July's Leinster final.
"Neville felt that he couldn't give the time necessary to play both games," said McIntyre, "and that both his hurling and football have been suffering.
"He's a big, strong man and somebody who, if he gave it his full-time attention, would have had a big role to play with us, but the demands on dual players nowadays are enormous and I can understand his decision."
