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ONE of the greatest Kerry players ever, Colm Cooper has called time on his illustrious intercounty career. The Dr Crokes sharpshooter, who will turn 34 this June, does so just two weeks after winning the one medal that had eluded him for many years – an All Ireland Club Championship medal.

Colm Cooper first came to the attention of the Kerry GAA public when winning a Senior County Championship medal in 2000 at the tender age of 17 in the company of his brothers Danny and Vince when Dr Crokes defeated An Ghaeltacht.

A year and a half later he made his senior debut for Kerry in the Allianz League Division 2 Final against Laois in the Gaelic Grounds and duly helped himself to 1-2 in the Number 15 jersey.

“Later that year he made his Championship debut against Limerick and although he and his Kerry team-mates had to give best to Armagh in the All Ireland Final of that year, he was recognised by the All Star selectors in his very first year at senior level,” said Kerry GAA PRO John O’Leary.

“He went on to play in nine All Ireland Finals, winning four, and was unlucky to be still recovering from a serious injury when Kerry defeated Donegal in the 2014 final.”

Colm Cooper played 85 Championship games for Kerry scoring 23-283 in the process and along the way he won every honour available to him including Texaco Footballer of the Year in 2004 and eight All-Stars.

“Cooper, an exemplary sportsman, endeared himself not only to the Kerry faithful but also to the wider GAA community where he was the perfect role model for our youth,” said Mr O’Leary. “He exuded class in everything he did on the field of play and we were once again reminded of that on St Patrick’s day when he scored the all important goal as Dr Crokes triumphed in the Club Championship final – 25 years after their first title when a youthful Colm Cooper was the team mascot.

“Colm Cooper leaves a treasure trove of memories behind him for us all to savour and on behalf of Kerry supporters everywhere and indeed on behalf of the extended GAA community, today we say thanks for those memories Colm.”
 

 
Above: Colm Cooper scores a point in the Kerry V Dublin All-Ireland Semi-Final in Croke Park.
PICTURE: DON MACMONAGLE