Long-serving Tipperary defender, Paddy Stapleton, has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

The 31-year-old Borris-Ileigh clubman made his senior competitive debut for Tipperary in the 2006 Waterford Crystal Shield against Waterford and his Championship debut two years later in the 2008 All-Ireland semi-final against the same opposition.

Over the course of his career the tenacious and skillful defender won two senior All-Ireland medals, four Munster senior medals, one Allianz National Hurling League medal and was nominated for an All-Star on three occasions.

In a statement released by the Tipperary County Board yesterday Stapleton said: "Following ten wonderful years playing senior hurling for Tipperary since first being called up by Babs Keating in 2006, which had until then been a lifelong dream, I wish to announce my retirement from the inter-county scene.

"I wish to thank my family, especially my parents Patricia and John, for all the positivity and advice through the years and also to my partner Jozette and close friends for supporting me always, particularly when I had injury setbacks. I owe a huge gratitude of thanks to the Principal and my fellow staff members of Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed Secondary School, Thurles, who facilitated me in any way they could during my time with the county.

"My club Borris-Ileigh have always made life easy for me when playing with Tipperary and it will be a pleasure to give back as much as I can to them in the coming years. Equally the Gaelic Players Association has helped massively whenever I needed assistance and they provide a great service for the players.

"In the Tipperary backroom over the years, men of the calibre of John Casey, Paddy O’Brien, Dr. Kevin Delargy, Dr Brendan Murphy and Mick Clohessy had their work cut out keeping me injury-free and they all did a fantastic job and I sincerely thank them for that. The Tipperary Co. Board has also been great to me and continues to support the team to an elite level with the much appreciated assistance from the Tipperary Supporters Club.

"I’d like to thank the supporters who kept the faith through good times and bad, it was a huge privilege and honour to represent them.

"I would like to thank all the players I played with and I feel unbelievably lucky to have shared a dressing-room with some of the best Tipperary have ever produced. More importantly, I have made lifelong friendships and shared fantastic memories with great people.

"All the management teams played important roles in my life and each deserve enormous credit for taking on their respective roles. It is important for me that I especially acknowledge Liam Sheedy, Eamon O’Shea and Mick Ryan. They put huge trust in me and always led their teams in the best manner possible.

"Finally I’d like to wish the current panel the very best of luck for 2017 and beyond. There is a great mix of youth and experience within this group and I have every faith that they will keep performing to the highest levels similar to what has been reached in recent years."