After nearly two and a half decades playing for Sixmilebridge, Niall Gilligan is all but ready to retire from the club game.
Aged 43, he came off the bench for the Bridge as they won the Clare hurling final against Cratloe on Sunday. Gilligan says that once the club's campaign in Munster - and possibly beyond - is over, he will likely call it a day.
"It's excellent, at 43-years-of-age, you never think you'd be here," the 1997 All-Ireland winner told 2FM's Game On.
I was up this morning at half-past six, not by choice, but the kids were up. We were getting the breakfast ready. It's totally different but it's fierce enjoyable. It's a family thing, it's great to have my wife and kids here.
To win the county final on this beautiful sunny day and against our old rivals from Cratloe [is brilliant]. We have great respect for them, we've been nip and tuck over the last ten years, we've won and they've won.
It's a nice way to sign off, I'll hardly be able to keep going any longer. Well, we have the Munster club to look forward to. We'll enjoy tonight and tomorrow and knuckle down to it after that.
Sunday's game was Gilligan's tenth time playing in a Clare county hurling final and his seventh win.
Into his 23rd season at Sixmilebridge, #GAABEO takes a look back at some of Niall Gilligan's finest moments representing his club and county!
See him in action this Sunday from 2.45pm on @TG4TV
Cluiche Ceannais Iomána an Chláir🏆@SMBGAA v @CratloeGAAClub #BígíLinn @GaaClare pic.twitter.com/czoiYfG1W7— GAA BEO TG4 (@GAA_BEO) October 11, 2019
"It's very hard to pick one out over the other," he said.
"When you win one, you just concentrate on the next year and move on. I can't say which one is more special than the others. The first one is special but the last one is too."
Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile
See Also: Kerry, Donegal, Cork, Dublin And Kilkenny Club Championships Get TV Coverage
