Long-serving Offaly stars Ger Oakley and Brian Mullins have retired from inter-county hurling.

Oakley, who wore the green, white and gold for 14 seasons, was the last remaining link with Offaly's 1998 All-Ireland winning team. He didn't figure in the final, but had started two games during that memorable campaign which saw Offaly recover from a heavy Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny to exact revenge in the All-Ireland decider.

The Carrig & Riverstown clubman made his Offaly debut against Tipperary in the 1996 National League and made his first championship start against Meath a year later. The pony-tailed 32-year-old lined out at midfield in the Faithful County's All-Ireland final defeat to Kilkenny in 2000 and had been a mainstay of the team ever since, playing well over 100 competitive games in a variety of positions.

He won National League Division 2 medals in 2005 and '09, captaining Offaly to the latter success at Wexford's expense.

"It was a hard decision. It is not a decision you make lightly after 14 seasons," said Oakley, who is a busy farmer with a young family.

Paying tribute to Oakley, Offaly manager Joe Dooley said: "He has given great service to Offaly hurling. He always gave 100 per cent and had great spirit. He was not playing with a senior hurling club which meant it was harder for him to stay at the level he did. He is farming as well so he didn't have a 9 to 5 job but he never gave less than 100 per cent He was captain in the league this year and led by example."

Dooley also revealed that experienced goalkeeper Brian Mullins has decided to call it a day. The Birr clubman had been Offaly's first-choice goalkeeper for the best part of a decade before losing the number one jersey to Kinnitty's James Dempsey last year.

Like Oakley, he won National League Division 2 medals in 2005 and '09 and collected three All-Ireland club medals with Birr. He is also the holder of 10 Offaly SHC medals. Tweet

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