Cats chief denies Kavanagh and Ryall reports

Two of Kilkenny’s most decorated hurlers, Michael Kavanagh and James Ryall, have denied they have retired from inter-county hurling.

Ned Quinn, the secretary of the Kilkenny County Board, has told KCLR that the pair have categorically denied newspaper reports that they quit the game in the wake of Sunday's All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary.   

The defensive pair were unused subs in Sunday’s decider and their retirements, as a result, are not unexpected.

Kavanagh, 31, was a constant at corner-back in the all-conquering Kilkenny team between 2006 and ’09 before losing his place in the side this year.

Ryall has not featured since the 2006 final win over Cork, but had been tipped to start at centre-back last Sunday had John Tennyson not recovered from a knee injury.

Kavanagh has one of the most impressive medal collections in the game. He has amassed an incredible seven GAA Hurling All-Ireland titles, 12 Leinster GAA Championships (a record with one county) and five Allianz GAA National League titles. The St Lachtain’s man, an AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club winner this in 2010, also boasts four GAA All Star awards.

Ryall, 29, has six GAA Hurling All-Ireland medals in his cabinet, eight Leinster titles and four Allianz GAA National League gongs.