Monaghan's O'Connell announces retirement

Monaghan have suffered another retirement blow with Karl O'Connell's decision to call it a day.

One of only 10 Monaghan players to receive an All-Star, the classy wing back won two Ulster SFC medals in 2013 and '15, two Allianz League Division 2 medals in 2014 and 2025, one Allianz League Division 3 title in 2013, and also represented Ireland in the International Rules series in 2017.

The 37-year-old Tyholland clubman's decision isn't as a surprise after he had struggled with injuries in recent years and comes just a few weeks after fellow veteran Darren Hughes also bowed out.

"Although the decision was easy to make, I still found it incredibly hard to mutter the words to Gabriel (Bannigan)," said O'Connell, who made his senior debut in 2012 after only taking up Gaelic football as a 17-year-old.

"It has been an absolute privilege to wear the jersey and play for Monaghan.

"I would like to thank the managers and backroom teams over the years for their persistence and belief in me that allowed me to become the player I became known as."

Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan described O'Connell as "one of Monaghan's greatest ever footballers".

"What is truly unique about Karl's achievements is that the man only started playing Gaelic football at 17 years of age, to have gone on to play inter-county football from such a late start is a brilliant achievement, but to reach the very highest level and deliver in a Monaghan jersey for 14 seasons and be recognised at All Star level is simply staggering," he said.

"I doubt anyone will ever repeat this unique record from such a late start in our game."

🗞️𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐎’𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞! 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞!

🔗https://t.co/kf59vsyOvy pic.twitter.com/DZA1kPxe1U

— @monaghangaa (@monaghangaa) September 22, 2025