Colin Fennelly confirms his retirement from inter-county hurling

• Published date: 08 November 2021

He announced last January that he was stepping away from the Kilkenny panel for a while but left it open whether and when he might come back. The uncertainty ended when he told media after his club's fourth successive county title that he wouldn't be returning.

"No, I'll be finished up. I have had enough. I had a year to think about it and I am glad I took that time to think about it. I am happy playing with the club and there are so many young lads coming through. I had a great time playing with Kilkenny. Fantastic so it was."

His club career rolls on, however, and the opportunity to add to his five All-Irelands with Ballyhale continues at the end of the month when they are drawn against former finalists Mount Leinster Rangers of Carlow in the provincial championship.

"Definitely," he says. "I won't be stopping with the club; that is for sure. The Leinster championship is very much on our radar now. We are out in three weeks' time and we will be looking forward to it.

"We will enjoy this moment, and for the week and then we will get back to training. We are after doing the second four in-a-row [after 2006-09]. This is my 10th championship win. Myself, Eoin Reid and TJ – three of us left of the first one. This is an amazing feeling. I am delighted for the club and team."

The Kilkenny champions are also in pursuit of a three-in-a-row club All-Ireland for a second year, having become back-to-back winners in early 2020 before COVID put a halt to the 2021 championship. They will be hoping to contest the Leinster final at Croke...