Kerry Hurler John Griffin announces his retirement from Intercounty Hurling
Kerry hurler John Griffin affectionately known as ‘Tweek’, has announced his retirement from senior inter county hurling. A member of the Lixnaw club, he has been a member of the Kerry senior panel since 2003. Normally an industrious midfielder, he also played in both forward and back positions for both club and county.
At schools level he won Munster Vocational Schools medals in both codes with Causeway Comprehensive School while also captaining the Kerry Vocational Schools Football team to an All-Ireland final in 2002. At colleges level he also had the honour of captaining Cork I.T. at Fitzgibbon Cup level in 2007. As a minor he helped Kerry to win the All-Ireland Minor ‘B’ hurling title in 2001 and later followed with an Under 21 ‘B’ hurling title. At club level he won 3 Co. Under 21 championships in a row with Lixnaw and to date has won 3 Co. Senior hurling championships.
In a 15 year inter county senior career he played in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of the Allianz League, winning medals in the latter 2. At championship level, John played in 5 Christy Ring Cup finals with Kerry, winning in both 2011 and 2015 while being on the losing side in 2010, 2013 and 2014. He had the honour of captaining the winning team in 2015 when Kerry defeated Derry in the final.
He travelled to Texas as an All-Star replacement in December 2015 and had the honour of playing for his country in a number of shinty-hurling internationals against Scotland.
John is also an accomplished footballer with his club Finuge with whom he won an All-Ireland Junior Club championship in 2005.
He will continue to line out with Lixnaw hurlers in both county and divisional competitions.
John Griffin – Profile
Club: Lixnaw (H), Finuge (F)
Age: 33
Occupation: National School Teacher
Roll of Honour:
3 Kerry Co. Senior Hurling Championships: 2005, 2007, 2014
3 Kerry Co. U21 Hurling Championships: 2003, 2004, 2005
2 Christy Ring Cup: 2011, 2015 (capt.)
1 Allianz Hurling League (Division 3A): 2010
2 Allianz Hurling League (Division 2A): 2014, 2015
1 Christy Ring Champion 15 All Star: 2008
Man of Match 2005 Kerry Senior Hurling Final
Represented Ireland in Shinty Internationals 2006 and 2009
Replacement All Star 2015
Football:
1 All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship 2005
2 Munster Junior Club Football Championship : 2002, 2004
1 Kerry and 1 Munster Intermediate Football Championship 2012
2 Kerry Junior Football Championship: 2002, 2004
1 North Kerry Senior Football Championship 2011
Statement by John Griffin
Today I announce my retirement from the Kerry Senior Hurling Team.
Over the last 15 years I have had a wonderful time playing with some of the best hurlers in the county. I feel very privileged to have experienced so much with these players on and off the field and many will remain friends for life.
I leave with great memories. Walking the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the Christy Ring cup is something very few get an opportunity to do, competing in Division 1 of the Allianz Hurling League, and as always the small things that being part of the team environment bring with it.
I had the opportunity to travel all over Ireland and the world playing with and against some of the best hurlers in the country while working with some exceptional management, coaching, backroom and medical teams. Kerry G.A.A have always provided great support while our Hurling Officers and Liaison Officers have worked tirelessly to ensure the best for the team in our endeavours.
Thank you to the GPA who have shown me great support in recent years in different areas of my life; Kelliher’s Toyota Garage Tralee who have been very generous to me the last 2 years and for this I am very grateful; My employers who have always given me time and support as needed.
Thanks to my club Lixnaw for providing me with the opportunity on two occasions to captain Kerry and to the club coaches who throughout my younger years helped me to develop to senior level. There are people in Lixnaw who have always shown me great support.
I would like to thank in particular my family and friends who I have probably neglected on occasions but they have always been very supportive, understanding and patient.
Finally, while not everyone understands the lure of playing hurling with Kerry it has provided me with some great days and it is something that will be very hard to replace. I would like to say to any young player if you are good enough for Kerry, make yourself available, work hard, be ambitious and enjoy what it has to offer. With the players available the next few years will be an exciting time for Kerry hurling and I look forward to following their progress. For now I look forward to giving time to other areas of my life but I am sure I’ll be back in some capacity in the near future.
Statement by Tim Murphy, Cathaoirleach Coiste Co. Chiarraí
The announcement today of John Griffins retirement from senior hurling with Kerry brings to an end a 15 year career of distinction with our County. A passionate and skilful player, John displayed many leadership qualities and has made a massive contribution to the development of hurling in Kerry.
He had a unique single-mindedness in the promotion of the game in Kerry and became a shining light of how best this could be achieved.
I wish John and his family all the very best in the future and have no doubt that he will be back involved in some capacity in the not too distant future.
By kristinagunn Wed 19th Apr
