Cats defender Ryall hangs up his hurl

Kilkenny defender James Ryall has announced his decision to retire from inter-county hurling.

The Grague-Ballycallan clubman made his debut for the Cats in 2002 and won six All-Ireland medals in his time with Brian Cody’s squad.

The 30-year old had been struggling to make the first team in recent seasons and decided the time was right to call it a day. Ryall had also suffered with injuries – he was diagnosed with chronic compartment syndrome in his legs in 2006 - but maintained that they weren’t the main reason behind his decision to finish up.

“I’d a great time with Kilkenny. It was an honour to play for my county and to finish with six All-Ireland medals is something special. You’d have to be happy with that,” he said in today’s Irish Examiner.

“The last few years I hadn’t been making the team and I was finding it more and more difficult to get in.

“I’d had a few injuries but that was no excuse. When I told Brian (Cody) about my decision I had to be honest not just for the team but for myself as well.

“At the end of it, Brian shook my hand and that was it. We left on the best terms possible. It’s the right decision.

“I’ve had a lot of great years with Kilkenny and the memories will stay with me forever,” he added.

Ryall follows in the footsteps of fellow Cats Derek Lyng and Michael Kavanagh, who both retired from inter-county hurling in the aftermath of the All-Ireland defeat to Tipperary in September.