February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
DUBLIN – Ciaran Carey, undoubtedly one of the finest hurlers never to win an All-Ireland medal, has announced that he is quitting the sport for a year. The Limerick star confirmed that he would not be available for the county and for his club, Patrickswell, during 2001.
"I’ve been going full blast since 1989 and I needed to take time out," Carey said. "It’s a decision I didn’t make lightly, but I’m sticking to my guns. A few friends advised me and for the first time in my life, I listened to someone."
At 30, there now have to question marks over whether Carey will play again.
"Ciaran is a massively popular figure around the county," said Limerick’s chairman, Donal Fitzgibbon. "Just by being himself, he’s a terrific PR man for Limerick hurling. He’s still very much part of our plans."
A former All-Star whose battle with alcohol has been well documented, Carey was on the losing side in the 1994 and ’96 All Ireland finals.
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"He’s in his prime," said former Limerick manager Tom Ryan. "He has a couple of seasons left in him yet, [but] take a year out of him at this stage and that could be the end of him."
Meanwhile, another former All-Star, Meath footballer John McDermott, has denied speculation that he has retired. Following reports that he had informed manager Sean Boylan of his decision to quit, McDermott has confirmed he will be available for the championship.