Enda Coughlan has announced his retirement from inter-county football.
Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Coughlan was the longest serving member of Colm Collins’ panel this year having made his inter-county debut in 2004. Enda’s first season saw Clare compete against Sligo in Croke Park when they became the first county to win the Tommy Murphy Cup while under the management of John Kennedy.
A versatile footballer Enda has lined out in several positions for Clare over the past twelve years. Recent seasons have seen injury hinder the amount of game-time he has received including a cruciate ligament injury sustained in July 2014.
Over the course of his inter-county career the Roxboro based Garda made one championship appearance in Croke Park which would be his final game in the county jersey.
Reports circulated last week that the thirty year old was to step away from the county setup, he informed Colm Collins of his decision at the weekend. Collins praised the utility man for his efforts lining out for the Banner County since 2004 and called him “a fantastic servant to Clare football”.
He will continue to play for his club Kilmurry Ibrickane and this year collected his seventh senior championship medal.
Speaking to The Clare Herald in August following Clare’s exit from the All-Ireland quarter-finals at the hands of Kerry, Coughlan said “Anything I could contribute this year I tried to do it, I’ll have to sit down talk to my family, talk to the wife and see where it goes from there”.
In the interval Enda played an influential part as Kilmurry Ibrickane collected their fourteenth Clare SFC title and their first in four years. They lost out to Dr Crokes in the Munster Club Championship and he then had the necessary time to consult with family and think about his inter-county future.
Walking up these steps with a cousin who I looked up to growing up was a dream ? a pleasure to play with enjoy retirement bud @endac6 #ping pic.twitter.com/xRJXieFHfu
— Eoin Cleary (@cleary_14) November 23, 2016
Enjoy retirement @endac6 . Great warrior and teammate down through the years
— Joe Hayes (@1JoeH) November 23, 2016
@endac6 An fantastic player & leader for Clare Football. Influence in dressing room & on pitch will be missed. Enjoy retirement ?
— Gary Brennan (@gary_brennan_) November 23, 2016
We want to wish @GaaClare‘s @endac6 all the best in his retirement from Inter County Football. #Players pic.twitter.com/Oc18Izewmo
— GPA (@gaelicplayers) November 23, 2016
Welcome to retirement @endac6. Great service given to the Clare jersey since 04. Boredom will soon set in!
— Michael O’Shea (@Mikeos15) November 23, 2016