Kerry loss as Hassett decides to retire

GAELIC GAMES: Yesterday's announcement that Liam Hassett has opted off the Kerry panel provides further evidence that football is fast becoming a young man's game. Although recently turned 31, Hassett admitted he no longer had the legs nor the appetite for the game at intercounty level, although he would continue playing with his club, Laune Rangers.

Manager Jack O'Connor and his predecessor Páidí Ó Sé yesterday paid tribute to Hassett's contribution to Kerry football, which included captaining the All-Ireland winning team of 1997, and helping them to further titles in 2000 and 2004. He started in last year's All-Ireland defeat to Tyrone, but that will go down as his last appearance.

Having made his debut in 1995, Hassett's decision to retire robs Kerry of one of their most experienced and capable players. It also follows that of Dara Ó Cinnéide, who announced his retirement in January at the age of 30.

Hassett discussed his future with O'Connor, who suggested he try out his hunger during the National League, but that wasn't to be. "We're very sorry to see Liam go," said O'Connor, "because we felt he still had a contribution to make this season. However, he has chosen to go out at the top. He was a real leader on the field and an excellent attacker in all facets of the game."

Ó Sé gave Hassett his big break with Kerry, bringing him into his under-21 team that won the All-Ireland, while at senior level he regularly started him at wing forward from 1996 onwards. "He was a player with great heart," said Ó Sé, "and extremely unselfish in that if he was going in for a score and another player was possibly in a better position he would never hesitate in passing him the ball.

"He could take a tackle as good as any player but his prime goal when he pulled on the Kerry jersey was to go out and do what was best for the Kerry team."

His All-Ireland success of 1997 turned a little sour afterwards with the controversy over the medal presentation. His brother Mike was captain of the Kerry team that year, but suffered a hamstring injury in the semi-final and failed to make the team for the final. The captaincy was handed to Liam, but when Mike wasn't presented with an All-Ireland medal, both brothers made themselves unavailable for Kerry the following year.

When it came to deciding on playing again in 2006, Hassett didn't have to think long: "Every other year I had the bag packed and I was out the door even before Christmas for training. I have had a great innings but the hunger was not there this year and there was no point in going on.

"After last year I think my mind was fairly clear that I was going to retire. I think that last year while I had a great year up to the final, I was probably found out in the game against Tyrone. Things did not go well for me on the day and I found it difficult enough. You might have the experience but when you don't have the legs on All-Ireland final day, it shows up and it's time to be realistic"

Meanwhile, the fixture controversy surrounding the Longford-Donegal league tie deepened yesterday. The GAA's Games Administration Committee (GAC) are due to discuss the matter this Saturday but Longford are seeking to have that meeting on the Friday, as their leading county officials are unable to attend on Saturday. While both counties are claiming the right to home advantage, they feel the GAC alone are to blame.

The Donegal County Board issued a lengthy statement yesterday explaining their side of the story, which appeared to rule out the possibility of the game being played at a neutral venue: "The fixture schedule presented to Donegal officers at a meeting of the GAC last November indicated clearly that Donegal had home matches against Leitrim, Longford and Limerick and would travel to play Carlow, London, Clare and Roscommon.

"There has never been a precedent in the revamped National Football League whereby a county has been asked to play five matches away from home out of seven fixtures. The official fixtures booklet also indicated that Donegal would play Longford at home and the county board arranged for the game to be played in Ballybofey on March 5th.

"It was with no small degree of surprise that the county board chairman Charlie O'Donnell heard on Monday evening last (February 27th) that Longford were also planning for a home game. Donegal officials were then asked to play at a neutral venue at very short notice, a request which was viewed as totally unreasonable given that plans were already in motion for staging the match at Ballybofey that Sunday."

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, must plan the rest of the reason without defender Shane Sweeney, who has opted off the panel because of personal commitments. The versatile 23-year-old made several appearances during Tyrone's successful All-Ireland campaign last summer, and although he didn't play any role in the final, he was expected to progress on to the regular starting 15 this year. Illness had also delayed Sweeney's return to training this year.

Both Harte and Dublin manager Paul Caffrey will learn later today if the appeals submitted by the players suspended after round one of the league are successful, following their appearance before the GAA's Central Appeals Committee last night.