Speculation is rife in Kilkenny that DJ Carey, the most decorated player in the modern game, is to retire from inter-county hurling. According to reports last night which are confirmed in today's Kilkenny People newspaper, Carey is about to announce his retirement.
The 27-year-old was honoured as an All Star for the sixth time in seven years last December, but all indications last night were that he was going to walk away from the inter-county game.
"DJ has been hinting at this for some time, but now it looks like he is ready to make the decision," according to a close friend.
Speculation that Carey had actually submitted his resignation to the county board in writing was denied by officers who said that they hadn't received any letter.
The expected announcement will be a major shock for Kilkenny who appointed a new manager, Kevin Fennelly, only last autumn in the wake of predecessor Nicky Brennan's decision to step down after suffering a torrent of verbal abuse from the crowd at the NHL semi-final defeat by Limerick.
This was despite a championship campaign which saw the county avail of the new championship provisions to emerge from Leinster although they lost the provincial final to Wexford. It was in the subsequent All-Ireland quarter-final with Galway that Carey gave his last top-class display of championship hurling, scoring 2-8 as Kilkenny came back from a nine-point deficit at halftime.
Up to that point, his form in the championship had been disappointing and he was under pressure to deliver. "You can't keep a good man down," was Brennan's jubilant post-match comment.
Pressure closer to home is believed to be at the heart of current developments. Carey apparently felt under pressure after his club, Young Ireland (Gowran) were beaten in last year's county final. He took a break from the game shortly afterwards, but it was expected that he would resume when the National Hurling League started on March 8th.
"As far as I am concerned, DJ will be playing with us against Cork on March 8th," was the reaction of Kilkenny manager, Kevin Fennelly last night. Fennelly trained Gowran and is a regular golf partner of Carey's. The two travelled to Valderrama for last September's Ryder Cup. Ironically, Carey's involvement with golf was the source of some criticism within the county last year when his devotion to the game was perceived as affecting his hurling.
Carey shot to prominence in 1988 when he won both colleges and minor hurling All-Irelands. Subsequently he won two senior All-Irelands in 1992 and '93 and two National Leagues, 1990 and '95, and he captained Kilkenny last season. In 1993, he was named Texaco Hurler of the Year.
His status within the game has been immense and his departure would be a severe blow for not only Kilkenny but hurling in general.
As long ago as before the 1993 All-Ireland, Diarmuid Healy, who managed Kilkenny from 1989-90, expressed the view that Carey was as good as Christy Ring and had the potential to be better.
Last summer, former Wexford manager Liam Griffin stated publicly that Carey was better than the Cork legend although the statement was seen by some in Kilkenny as gamesmanship before the Leinster final.
According to John Knox, the experienced Kilkenny People journalist: "People would feel that at the moment Kilkenny are maybe three players short of an All-Ireland. If DJ retires, they'll be five short."
