McDermott decides to call it a day

The Meath midfielder John McDermott yesterday announced his retirement from inter-county football. McDermott (30), who played in 30 championship games for Meath, said the time had come for younger players to take over the midfield jersey.

There had been considerable talk of McDermott's retirement recently as he repeatedly stayed away from the Meath training camp but neither himself nor manager Sean Boylan would make any firm commitment about the future.

But that concluded yesterday with McDermott's brief statement about why he would no longer be playing for the county.

"I think the time has now come for some of the younger players to take over the midfield jersey for Meath," he said, "because I feel that I have given it all I can during the years I've been involved with the county.

"I've really enjoyed the time I've been with Meath. We had some lean years and some successful years but I would like to do some other things now. But there is lots of new talent there now and it's time for them to shine."

McDermott quickly established himself as the driving force behind the Meath success of recent years after making his debut against Dublin in the 1991 championship. He played a part in the four historic games with Dublin that June before going on to win his first Leinster medal. He won his second Leinster medal on the way to his first All-Ireland title with Meath in 1996.

His captained Meath in their next All-Ireland success in 1999 beating Cork in the final and picked up his third All Star at the end of that year. He also captained the Irish team in the memorable win over Australia in the International Rules Test.

But last season, time seemed to be catching up. His fitness was clearly restricted during Meath's shock defeat to Offaly in the first round of the championship, and a new job in Donegal at the time didn't help his schedule with the Meath training - forcing him to travel down by helicopter twice a week for a number of months.

McDermott made one last appearance with Meath against Fermanagh in the pre-Christmas round of this year's league but that was his last contact with the management and panel. Although he denied the initial rumours that his time was up with Meath, the decision now is final.

"I will continue to play with my club Skryne but I doubt if those who have been involved with me would like to see me come back again once someone else is doing well."

McDermott is back working at the Meath-based Kepak plant in Clonee, but as the heart of the Meath team for long, he will be hard to replace - especially with Meath's championship opener with Westmeath now just over two weeks away. An exceptional fielder and one of the strongest players in the game, he is sure to be a huge loss to the Royals as they seek to get back on track in the championship.

The news follows that of veteran forward Tommy Dowd, who also stepped down from the panel in the build-up to this year's championship. The four-time All Star winner and captain of Meath's All-Ireland winning side of 1996 had long been hampered by injuries, and when an old ankle complaint flared up again recently, he realised that he was fighting a losing battle in trying to get fit for this summer's Leinster championship.