Tony Browne admits he is struggling to come to terms with life as a retired inter-county hurler.

As the Deise prepare to take on Wexford in the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers this weekend, the 41-year-old revealed he would love to be still involved.

"I'd be telling you a lie if I said I didn't think I still could [perform]," he said to the Examiner.

"The body could do it if I wanted, which is strange to say, 'yeah, I could have done it'. But it's how I feel.

"I'm playing away with the club and was very happy with how the first two rounds of the championship went for me."

The Deise legend added: "Some part of me was hoping after the first two rounds of the championship that Derek McGrath might pick up the phone and ring me or whatever.

"That's the other side of it, you find it hard to let go when you retire."

According to Browne, Derek McGrath could do a lot worse that give John Mullane a call.

"Looking at him close up in the last couple of weeks, he was super in the club championship.

"It's a different kettle of fish at inter-county, it's a huge step up. But could he do it? 100%. The man is 32, 33, he could have played another year, even this year." Tweet

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