End of the line for Hale

Alfie Hale announced his retirement from Kilkenny City yesterday after four years as manager, including their spell in the National League Premier Division in the 1997/98 season.

Kilkenny ended up fifth in the First Division this year and Hale believes he has taken the club as far as they want to go. "I've given it a great deal of thought and this really is a milestone for me," he said. "It's been four smashing years and I've no regrets, but this is definitely the final moment from a manager's point of view.

"I believe I've been luckier than most, and I've a lot of success to look back on at many different levels. And most importantly I've made many great friends through the game."

In his career, Hale has been mostly associated with Waterford, where he spent three separate periods as both player and manager, including the period when they won six league titles in eight years, the last of which was in 1973.

In England, he spent time with Aston Villa before moving on to Doncaster Rovers and, at home, he also played with Cobh Ramblers and Thurles Town. He will, however, continue to run his sports shop in Waterford city.