1997 footballer of the year Maurice Fitzgerald has shocked footballing circles in Kerry with the announcement that he has opted out of the county panel for this year¿s championship.
Fitzgerald revealed this week that he does not intend to seek a place on the Kerry team for the All-Ireland championship campaign.
In an interview with The Kerryman,the 32-year-old said that, while he will continue to line out with his club, St Mary's Cahersiveen, he does not have time to train with the Kerry team. While he did not say he was retiring from inter-county football, his revelation should put an end to speculation about his immediate future with the green and gold.
Fitzgerald, a qualified teacher, who quit his profession to join his father's auctioneering business in Cahersiveen a few years ago, said he was "very busy at the moment" with his work. He said he was "bored" with the topic of his future and stories relating to it.
The ace forward began his intercounty campaign with Kerry back in 1988 and although his role with the team in recent years has been confined to that of super-sub, nevertheless his decision to opt out will be met with considerable reaction in footballing circles in his native county.