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JOHN ‘Tweek’ Griffin has retired from inter-county hurling after 15 years involved with the Kerry team.
The 33-year-old Lixnaw clubman won a number of honours with Kerry over the years and was a huge inspiration to many with his skill and versatility in many positions on the field.
In a statement posted on the Kerry GAA website, John says:
“Today I announce my retirement from the Kerry Senior Hurling Team. Over the last 15 years I have had a wonderful time playing with some of the best hurlers in the county.
I feel very privileged to have experienced so much with these players on and off the field and many will remain friends for life.
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I leave with great memories. Walking the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the Christy Ring cup is something very few get an opportunity to do, competing in Division 1 of the Allianz Hurling League, and as always the small things that being part of the team environment bring with it.
Thanks to my club Lixnaw for providing me with the opportunity on two occasions to captain Kerry and to the club coaches who throughout my younger years helped me to develop to senior level. There are people in Lixnaw who have always shown me great support.
I would like to thank in particular my family and friends who I have probably neglected on occasions but they have always been very supportive, understanding and patient.
Finally, while not everyone understands the lure of playing hurling with Kerry it has provided me with some great days and it is something that will be very hard to replace. I would like to say to any young player if you are good enough for Kerry, make yourself available, work hard, be ambitious and enjoy what it has to offer (for the full statement click here).”
The national school teacher has been a member of the Kerry senior panel since 2003 and while normally a midfielder, he also played in both forward and back positions for both club and county.
He played in five Christy Ring Cup finals with Kerry — winning in 2011 and 2015 and losing in 2010, 2013 and 2014 — and won Allianz League medals in Division 2 and Division 3, while he also played in Division 1.
He captained the winning Christy Ring Cup team in 2015 when Kerry defeated Derry in the final.
He will continue to line out with Lixnaw hurlers in both county and divisional competitions.
Chairman of Kerry County Board, Tim Murphy, in a statement on the Kerry GAA website, paid tribute to John Griffin: “The announcement today of John Griffin’s retirement from senior hurling with Kerry brings to an end a 15 year career of distinction with our County. A passionate and skilful player, John displayed many leadership qualities and has made a massive contribution to the development of hurling in Kerry.
He had a unique single mindedness in the promotion of the game in Kerry and became a shining light of how best this could be achieved. I wish John and his family all the very best in the future and have no doubt that he will be back involved in some capacity in the not too distant future.”
Roll of Honour:
3 Kerry Co. Senior Hurling Championships: 2005, 2007, 2014
3 Kerry Co. U21 Hurling Championships: 2003, 2004, 2005
2 Christy Ring Cup: 2011, 2015 (capt.)
1 Allianz Hurling League (Division 3A): 2010
2 Allianz Hurling League (Division 2A): 2014, 2015
1 Christy Ring Champion 15 All Star: 2008
Man of Match 2005 Kerry Senior Hurling Final
Represented Ireland in Shinty Internationals 2006 and 2009
Replacement All Star 2015
Football:
1 All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship 2005
2 Munster Junior Club Football Championship : 2002, 2004
1 Kerry and 1 Munster Intermediate Football Championship 2012
2 Kerry Junior Football Championship: 2002, 2004
1 North Kerry Senior Football Championship 2011
