LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago
BRIAN FENTON HAS announced his retirement from inter-county football.
The Dublin midfield great calls time on his decade-long senior career aged 31.
The bombshell news was first reported by The Irish Times’ Gordon Manning last night. A statement confirming Fenton’s retirement was released by Dublin GAA this morning.
Brian Fenton has announced his retirement from inter-county football after ten memorable seasons in Blue.
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) November 19, 2024
Congratulations on an incredible career, @BrianFenton08 💙 pic.twitter.com/ecLvwV0KB3
Fenton bows out with seven All-Ireland senior titles, two Footballer of the Year awards (2018 and 2020), six All-Stars, 10 Leinster championships and four National League honours.
The Raheny man made his Dublin senior debut in 2015, is now widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in the history of Gaelic football.
He enjoyed a six-year unbeaten championship run from 2015 to 2021, and remarkably never lost a Leinster senior championship game.
Fenton remained a standout player for Dessie Farrell’s side last season, and was nominated for an All-Star at the recent awards ceremony.
He now joins another Dublin great, James McCarthy, in retirement after a decade of Dublin service.
“Brian was an integral figure in the incredible success enjoyed by Dublin over the past decade,” said Dublin county board chairperson Michael Seavers.
“He is a hugely talented footballer and fan favourite who will forever be considered one of the greatest players to grace the field in a blue jersey.
“We thank Brian for his unwavering commitment to Dublin football. We wish him and his family all the best going forward and we look forward to welcoming him back to Parnell Park as he continues to play with his club Raheny.”
The Dublin GAA statement reads:
“The Dublin County Board can confirm that Brian Fenton is retiring from senior inter-county football after ten remarkable seasons representing Dublin.
“Brian made his senior inter-county debut against Monaghan in the 2015 National League and his championship debut came later that year against Longford.
“The Raheny man represented Dublin in senior championship football more than 60 times, including playing a central role in Dublin’s record-breaking run of 45 unbeaten championship games.
“This period delivered Dublin’s historic six in-a-row of All-Ireland senior football championship victories between 2015-2020. A further All-Ireland success followed in 2023.
“Dublin’s talismanic midfielder also received individual recognition- winning the GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year award in 2018 and 2020, as well as six All-Stars.”
“Brian leaves inter-county football as the winner of seven All-Ireland senior football medals, 10 Leinster senior football medals, four National League titles, one All-Ireland and one Leinster U21 Medal, six All-Star Awards and two Footballer of the Year Awards,” it concludes.
- First published 8.11am, updated at 9.36am after official announcement
Written by Emma Duffy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else.
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