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Most football careers end in frustration, the realisation that the powers are fading tainting the memories of triumphs past so when a truly great player bows out at the top of his game the whole of sport should rejoice.

Such is the case with Seamus Moynihan the All-Ireland-winning centre-back who announced his retirement from inter-county action with Kerry this week.

Few Kerry players in recent times would be included in the greatest Kingdom teams of all times but the modest Moynihan is an exception.

The Glenflesk man is likely to finish his career with his third All-Star this year having already claimed his fourth All-Ireland medal in the victory over Mayo.

While other players have enjoyed a higher profile Moynihan’s footballing brilliance always shone. He has been imperious throughout a long career in the Kerry colours whether being deployed at full-back or centre-back his place has never been under threat.

Moynihan made his debut for Kerry in the Munster Final of 1992 when Clare recorded one of the most unexpected victories of modern times. However since then the steely Kerryman has enjoyed success at the highest level with his livewire pace and solid pair of hands.

Many people have expressed surprise at Moynihan’s decision to leave the inter-county stage at his relatively young age of 32 particularly given the excellence of his performance in the All-Ireland final victory over Mayo.

He was the dominant player in the second-half proving the main link between defence and attack as the Kingdom powered to their second All-Ireland triumph in three years.

Few players in the modern game have won so much — those four All-Ireland triumph’s complimented by three National Leagues, a Railway Cup, four Sigerson Cups with UCC, eight Munster seniors and a record four appearances in the International rules series with Australia.

Many are the players who enjoy adulation at the height of their careers but who fade from the memory when their careers end but Seamus Moynihan belongs to the select group of players whose achievements will live in the memory long after this generation of players have hung up their boots.

The year 2006 will be remembered as the year when two of the greats Moynihan and DJ Carey of Kilkenny called time on their respective glittering careers.