Monaghan captain Conor McManus has saluted recently retired team mate Dick Clerkin, saying that his lengthy career isn't likely to be emulated again.

Clerkin revealed his decision to retire from inter-county football yesterday in his column in the Irish Examiner, after having served the Farney County for 18 seasons, and McManus feels that the demand today on players at the top level won't see too many careers like the big Currin man's.

"I don't think we will because the demands have got that high," the Clontibret forward said in today's Irish Examiner.

"A lot of players started their county careers after Dick and retired long before him. That just shows how physically demanding and how time-consuming the whole thing has become.

"It's only going to be more and more difficult to emulate a fella like Dick and I really wouldn't be surprised if it's not done again.

"One of Dick's great attributes was he was very rarely injured. People would say he was lucky in that regard but it's more than luck, it's about looking after yourself well and doing all the right things for nearly 20 years. That's an incredible commitment to have made."

Clerkin made his debut for Monaghan back in 1999, winning two Ulster titles in 2013 and 2015.

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