Maher: I was lucky neck injury was picked up before it got worse

Tipperary's Pádraic Maher said his decision to retire was "difficult but straightforward" after being advised by medics that any aggravation to his neck injury could have done "serious damage".

The three-time All-Ireland winner announced his abrupt retirement from all contact sport on Wednesday, citing medical advice on a neck injury incurred during the recent club season.

Only last month, he had told reporters he still felt "he had something to offer" and was itching to get back into the Tipperary set-up ahead of the league campaign, once he had addressed "niggles" picked up during the club campaign.

To his surprise on Friday, he learned that one of those niggles would end his hurling career for both club and county.

"It was a very difficult decision in one way. And in another way, it was a very straightforward decision," Maher told RTÉ Sport.

"I got medical advice on the injury in my neck. I was advised to step away from contact sport. Lucky enough, I'm going to be able to exercise but it's just contact - and in the game of hurling, it's one of the main parts of it.

"I've had great medical personnel involved with me in the last couple of days. I was lucky this was picked up before it got worse.

"It was probably a sad way to go but I can have no complaints over the last couple of years."

Maher said the medics hadn't pinpointed when the injury was incurred but the current thinking is that it's a relatively recent phenomenon, with symptoms first cropping up over winter.

"I was getting a few headaches but it was coming from my neck," the defender said. "The doctors sent me for a scan, I met the consultants in Limerick. They advised me for my health that I'd be perfectly fine going forward but another small little bang the wrong way