Best wishes to Oisin on his retirement. Some man for one man.

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 25/02/2013 10:13:04    1338755

Ádh mór ort Oisín, thanks for all the memories fein.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 25/02/2013 10:36:28    1338768

One match always comes to mind with Oisín, the 2000 All ireland semi final and replay against kerry, Seamus Moynigan was full back at the time and Oisín was full forward, I think that day was teh clash of two player at their peak. Oisín scored I think 1-09 off Seamus but Seamus was given the Man of the match award.. it was one cracking clash

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 25/02/2013 12:11:30    1338841

sad day for the orchards... a class act on the field, with an astounding collection of medals and memories, has he eluded to management?

milhouse (Cavan) - Posts: 469 - 25/02/2013 12:21:27    1338848

Great player Oisin. Armagh have felt his loss this last few years and Cross felt his loss when he had to come off against St. Brigid's. Sometimes one comes along that you just can't replace. Interesting to see how Cross react to this.
Well deserved retirement.

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 25/02/2013 14:23:38    1338917

A great man, has been there and done it all, well earned retirement.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 25/02/2013 14:40:32    1338928

What a man, starring at his age at the very top of club football. An absolute legend of the game, inspirational on and off the field, his honesty to the public will never be forgotten along with several memorable moments on the pitch. One of the all time greats of the game and a joy to watch always.

tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 25/02/2013 16:23:37    1338985

Great footballer a true legend of our game.

He will be back no doubt though, hes 100% football and he will be involved in inter county management in no time.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 25/02/2013 16:28:33    1338990

What age was he when retired from inter county football? all the best to him on his retirement

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4055 - 25/02/2013 16:28:55    1338991

About time. He broke donegal hearts too often!

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 25/02/2013 17:10:48    1339023

The term legend gets over-used at times but this man is one, a great footballer and a strong character. His honesty in his autobiography was refreshing and the open way he laid out his demons was something few of us could do. His commitment to the game, his club and county should be used as an example to all young players, especially in a world where honour and loyalty can sometimes get trampled on in the quest for success and fame.
Best of luck and hope your retirement is a full and contented one.

commander (Kildare) - Posts: 225 - 25/02/2013 17:19:57    1339028

A GAA legend and a great player . His honesty regarding his off the field problems I'm sure helped a lot of people

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 25/02/2013 18:03:33    1339054

oisin you broke my heart in 2002 but you are a true legend of the game, it was a pleasure to watch you in action, may you enjoy your retirement and god bless.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 25/02/2013 18:37:12    1339072

Greatest ever club footballer - proud to say he was one of ours. Hopefully we will see him stay involved with the club on the sidelines before too long.

crossranger (Armagh) - Posts: 96 - 25/02/2013 20:00:49    1339126

Was it just me or did he play his best football for Armagh prior to the all Ireland win in 2002, or maybe I think that because the rest of the players caught up with him by then whereas before then he was definitely Armaghs best forward.

Armagh had an incredible team back then. Its such a pity they only won one all ireland.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 25/02/2013 20:05:50    1339129

Great player. All the best too him in his retirement...

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 26/02/2013 09:09:44    1339201

Let's make Armagh a football power again! That's the clarion call today from Oisin McConville, who has just called time on his glittering playing career with Crossmaglen Rangers and the Orchard County.

And he reveals for the first time that he turned down an opportunity to become part of Paddy O'Rourke's management team when the 1991 Down All-Ireland winning captain took up the Armagh reins.

McConville, too, discloses that in the last 24 hours he has been approached by a number of clubs seeking his services as coach/manager, two of which offered "substantial financial incentives."

But he reiterates that his home club and native county will continue to form the kernel of his sporting world for the future just as they have done for the past two decades.

"I have in the more recent past indicated that I would like at some stage to become involved in management but I have to say that I was both surprised and flattered when Paddy O'Rourke contacted me and asked if I would be interested in becoming part of his backroom team," states McConville.

"But while I had brought the curtain down on my county career I was still playing with Crossmaglen Rangers and I honestly felt that they had the capacity to maybe win a couple more honours before I opted out.

"This proved the case but Paddy's offer certainly set me thinking and I resolved then that when I finished playing I would focus more strongly on perhaps becoming involved in management."

But the 37-year-old, whose phenomenal scoring exploits have propelled him up among the pantheon of truly great players, is prepared to bide his time before perhaps embarking on a new chapter in his illustrious sporting career.

"I would dearly love to see Armagh become a football power again," enthuses the legendary sharpshooter.

"I will be brutally honest here. When Armagh won the All-Ireland title in 2002 I, like a lot of other people, thought that we might win Sam at least one more time. That did not happen, of course.

"But the success triggered such football fervour and garnered such a feelgood factor in Armagh that I believe if the side were to regain the status they had a decade or so ago, then everyone would buy into this. The whole community would benefit, I feel," said McConville.

And while he would not baulk at assuming command of Armagh "somewhere along the line", he has nothing but the highest praise for the efforts that current boss Paul Grimley is making to restructure the side.

"Paul is showing faith in a battery of young guys and he is to be applauded for that," he says.

"Some people might say that the results are slow in coming but it takes time and patience to re-build and he should be afforded this.

"What Armagh sow today they might well reap in the foreseeable future," insists McConville.

And while he will continue to immerse himself in the fortunes of the county team, the notion of accepting a generous financial package, well in excess of the GAA's regulation expenses, is anathema to him.

"Two clubs in particular from the midlands have been on with what I can only describe as significant financial deals but I won't be selling my soul to anyone," raps McConville.

"I take my reward from the fact that there is a new generation of players coming through in Crossmaglen Rangers and that Armagh will in time have the capacity to mount a serious challenge again for the major honours.

"Obviously I would love to get the chance to try and deliver those honours but I will be taking things one day at a time as I have always done."

McConville's single-mindedness, fiercely competitive spirit and inter-personal skills ensure that he ticks the most important boxes in terms of a potential manager's CV.

"But I have a lot to learn," he adds. "And I am prepared to apply myself in this regard.

"For the moment I will content myself with being a spectator, albeit in the role of maybe a fledgling manager.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 26/02/2013 10:13:54    1339232

Oisin is a legend, he is a class act on the field and off it.

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 26/02/2013 14:32:11    1339410

he also won, u-12, u-14 , u-16, league and champ., feile, minor, 4-u-21 club champ, 16 SFC, 8 SFL, 10 Ulster club , 6 All-Ireland Club.

at county level nearly every honour going

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1688 - 26/02/2013 15:31:43    1339442

Best of luck to Oisin in his retirement. Probably should have won more with Armagh but he made up for it with Cross. Like all great club players he wouldn't have won a thing without great players around him. Best wishes to him and his family.

croker16 (Louth) - Posts: 349 - 26/02/2013 15:51:30    1339451