Taken from GAA.ie
Friday, February 16
Offaly hurling legend Brian Whelahan has confirmed his decision to retire from inter-county hurling, with his persistent injury problems eventually making his mind up for him.
Whelahan has served a glittering career for the Faithful County, claiming four All Stars and two All-Ireland medals.
He is also the only modern-day member of the GAA’s hurling team of the millennium and has four Club All-Ireland medals from his time with Birr.
The loss of Whelahan - whose match-winning display in the 1998 All-Ireland final win over Kilkenny will live long in the memory of the most faithful of Faithful followers - will be a blow to county boss John McIntyre, who is trying to build a new-look side to challenge the likes of Kilkenny and Cork on a regular basis.
Whelahan himself admitted he was tempted to give it one more year, but decided in the end that the sensible thing to do was to call it a day as injury problems just kept on coming.
“I’m finished up definitely,” the 35-year-old is quoted as saying by The Irish Star.
“You’re always tempted but you have to be realistic too. Last year I said I’d give it a major go as regards getting in to proper shape for one last go. Then I got my Gilmore’s groin injury and had that operation.
“And when I came back from that about two weeks before we hurled Wexford, I displaced a shoulder joint. I tried to come in through the qualifiers and that turned out to be a disaster.
“It’s just a disappointing way to finish up, because I prepared myself to give it a good year. That’s what happens – the body tells you that’s it.”
Thanks for the memories Sid
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Rynaghs Biffo
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kinnittyman
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So it has come to pass that Offaly's greatest hurler Brian Whelahan has bowed out of the inter county scene after 17 seasons. He will be sorely missed.
My first memory of Sid is in the 1992 U21 All-Ireland finals when it seemed to me that it was virtually Waterford vs Brian Whelahan. Even though i was only 11 i knew leaving Nowlan Park after the first game that he was an all time great in the making. Even at this stage he was a regular in the Offaly senior side having made his debut as a minor in the All-Ireland semi in 1989 and in 1991 captained Birr to county final success. 1994 would become a glorious year for Whelahan when he would win Leinster and All-Ireland medals with Offaly, MOTM in the All-Ireland final and win Texaco Hurler of the year while astonishingly being overlooked for an all star. What many dont know is that Sid broke his ankle in a Walsh Cup game against Laois that year and did well to make it back for championship let alone win all those awards. In 1995 he would win an all ireland club medal with Birr winning MOTM in the final(not sure whether it was 1st or 2nd game-think it was second) and another Leinster medal with Offaly in that historic victory over Kilkenny. Unfortunately it was to be the Banners day in September but Whelahan won his second All-Star to go with his trophy from 1992. Wexford were to be our hoodoo in 96 and 97 but the never to be forgotten summer of 98 saw Whelahan pick up his second Celtic Cross to add to his second All Ireland Club medal he won on St.Patrick's Day of that year. MOTM in both finals was an added bonus as was his third All-Star which he won in the Full-Forward position after scoring 1-6 in the All-Ireland. Offalys defence of the All-Ireland was to come up short against Cork in 1999 but not due to Whelahans efforts who put in one of the, if not the greatest performance ever seen in Croke Park. Rather unsurprisingly RTE decided to give Brian Corcoran MOTM in a decision that still mystifies Offaly folk. But a third All-Star did follow. Whelahan picked up a third All-Irelland club medal in 2002 and was once again MOTM in that final meaning in the five All-Ireland finals he had succesfully competed in, in the senior grade he had won MOTM in all five-talk about the man for the big occasion. And in 2003 Birr retained the All Ireland club meaning a fourth club All Ireland for Whelahan.
During his career i dont think i can ever remember Whelahan pull a dirty stroke and his reading of the game and distribution was phenomenal. Even during the game against Limerick last year in Tullamore he did things that I dont think any other hurler on the field could contemplate. Without question he is still a pivotal part of Birr's team and in 2006 he was as good as ever in the county championship. All the talk leading up the County Semi was an on form Mark Leonard was going to take him to the cleaners but Whelahan absolutley destroyed him. Some people will always begrudge his millenium selection on the basis that DJ didnt get one but each selection shold be taken on its own merits and from what i have seen of him no hurler from any era could have had more ability and hurling skill. Of course he got the odd trimming here and there but no hurler goes out and is flawless every game. I was just honoured to be there to see him play for Offaly i know deep down we'll never have another like him. Thanks for the memories Sid, you did your game and your county proud.
My first memory of Sid is in the 1992 U21 All-Ireland finals when it seemed to me that it was virtually Waterford vs Brian Whelahan. Even though i was only 11 i knew leaving Nowlan Park after the first game that he was an all time great in the making. Even at this stage he was a regular in the Offaly senior side having made his debut as a minor in the All-Ireland semi in 1989 and in 1991 captained Birr to county final success. 1994 would become a glorious year for Whelahan when he would win Leinster and All-Ireland medals with Offaly, MOTM in the All-Ireland final and win Texaco Hurler of the year while astonishingly being overlooked for an all star. What many dont know is that Sid broke his ankle in a Walsh Cup game against Laois that year and did well to make it back for championship let alone win all those awards. In 1995 he would win an all ireland club medal with Birr winning MOTM in the final(not sure whether it was 1st or 2nd game-think it was second) and another Leinster medal with Offaly in that historic victory over Kilkenny. Unfortunately it was to be the Banners day in September but Whelahan won his second All-Star to go with his trophy from 1992. Wexford were to be our hoodoo in 96 and 97 but the never to be forgotten summer of 98 saw Whelahan pick up his second Celtic Cross to add to his second All Ireland Club medal he won on St.Patrick's Day of that year. MOTM in both finals was an added bonus as was his third All-Star which he won in the Full-Forward position after scoring 1-6 in the All-Ireland. Offalys defence of the All-Ireland was to come up short against Cork in 1999 but not due to Whelahans efforts who put in one of the, if not the greatest performance ever seen in Croke Park. Rather unsurprisingly RTE decided to give Brian Corcoran MOTM in a decision that still mystifies Offaly folk. But a third All-Star did follow. Whelahan picked up a third All-Irelland club medal in 2002 and was once again MOTM in that final meaning in the five All-Ireland finals he had succesfully competed in, in the senior grade he had won MOTM in all five-talk about the man for the big occasion. And in 2003 Birr retained the All Ireland club meaning a fourth club All Ireland for Whelahan.
During his career i dont think i can ever remember Whelahan pull a dirty stroke and his reading of the game and distribution was phenomenal. Even during the game against Limerick last year in Tullamore he did things that I dont think any other hurler on the field could contemplate. Without question he is still a pivotal part of Birr's team and in 2006 he was as good as ever in the county championship. All the talk leading up the County Semi was an on form Mark Leonard was going to take him to the cleaners but Whelahan absolutley destroyed him. Some people will always begrudge his millenium selection on the basis that DJ didnt get one but each selection shold be taken on its own merits and from what i have seen of him no hurler from any era could have had more ability and hurling skill. Of course he got the odd trimming here and there but no hurler goes out and is flawless every game. I was just honoured to be there to see him play for Offaly i know deep down we'll never have another like him. Thanks for the memories Sid, you did your game and your county proud.
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Lone Shark
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It's very hard to come up with words to do a man of Sid's record justice, so I won't try, except to add a supporter's thanks for a glorious career in the county colours. Legend gets bandied around a lot these days, but if ever it was justified.....
As for the whole Team of the Millenium and DJ Carey thing, I've got involved in some very heated arguments with Cats down the years, but as far as I'm concerned Sid was the better all round hurler, and he contributed more to his team than DJ ever did. DJ put in most of his best performances in games that Kilkenny would have won either way, while he let them down big style in a few huge games, including several All Ireland finals. Ask yourself how many big games Kilkenny would have lost but for DJ's performance, and the cupboard is actually fairly bare. Now compare that to the games Offaly would never have won without Sid - the comparison is stark to say the least.
I wouldn't rule out for a second that time will prove Henry to be the best of the three, but right now for me it's no contest between Sid and the Gowran overcarrying specialist.
As for the whole Team of the Millenium and DJ Carey thing, I've got involved in some very heated arguments with Cats down the years, but as far as I'm concerned Sid was the better all round hurler, and he contributed more to his team than DJ ever did. DJ put in most of his best performances in games that Kilkenny would have won either way, while he let them down big style in a few huge games, including several All Ireland finals. Ask yourself how many big games Kilkenny would have lost but for DJ's performance, and the cupboard is actually fairly bare. Now compare that to the games Offaly would never have won without Sid - the comparison is stark to say the least.
I wouldn't rule out for a second that time will prove Henry to be the best of the three, but right now for me it's no contest between Sid and the Gowran overcarrying specialist.