Colm Galvin forced to retire from Clare duty through injury

Clare have lost another of the class of 2013 after Colm Galvin announced today that he had been forced to retire from inter-county hurling due to a persistent groin injury.

The Clonlara man won three All-Ireland U21 titles in a row with the Banner from 2012-14 and claimed an All-Star at midfield after they collected Liam MacCarthy nine years ago. He also won an Allianz Hurling League Division 1 crown in 2016.

Galvin, who turned 29 this week, had missed the entire 2020 season because of the injury but returned to play last summer, scoring a point against Cork in what turned out to be his final game in saffron and blue.

"It's a scenario that I never thought or hoped would ever happen but unfortunately following a succession of injuries and repeated setbacks, I’ve had to make the difficult decision to retire from inter-county hurling," he said in a statement.

"A decade on from making my senior championship debut against Dublin in Cusack Park, I’d love to have continued playing for Clare but after ongoing conversations with Brian [Lohan], realistically my body just isn’t able for the workload required at the highest level any longer.

"Central to this is a persistent groin injury that has never healed properly which has proven extremely frustrating as well as mentally draining.

"It’s not easy to step away from the panel, many of which I have hurled alongside since our formative years in a Clare jersey but I sincerely wish the lads and management all the very best for 2022 and beyond.

"My focus now is to try and get rehabilitated for my club Clonlara who, along with my parents Kevin and Geraldine, my fiancé Orlaith, siblings Ciara and Ian, friends and extended family, have been so supportive to me throughout my inter-county career.

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