So long Senan Kilbride and thanks for the memories.
The big St Brigid’s full-forward has informed Roscommon of his intention to retire from intercounty football after almost a decade of battling in the saffron and blue.
Making his senior debut in 2008 against Galway, he was a regular on a highly competitive Roscommon team for the past eight seasons.
The primary school teacher will now focus on his club career with St Brigid’s, with whom he won an AIB club All-Ireland title in 2013.
In May 2015, he collected the Opel Player of the Month award in football for his performances during Roscommon’s successful Allianz League Division 2 campaign. He scored four points from play in the final.
On receiving that award the spring before last, Kilbride acknowledged that the end was nigh.
“Older lads like myself and Seanie Mac (McDermott) and the lads, we can see the end of the tunnel and we’re thinking about eking out the most we can in the last couple of years,” he said.
“The team has a nice gathering of youth and experience and there’s a few lads who had their first starts in the league final and did really well. It’s a strong squad that’s getting stronger every year and just pushing on.”
On Thursday Roscommon GAA Co Board Chairman Seamus Sweeney said: “On behalf of Roscommon GAA people everywhere I would like to thank Senan for his tremendous service to Roscommon GAA and I know he’ll continue the great work in St Brigid’s and through his work as a primary school teacher. Well done Senan and thanks for the memories.”
