GAA

Goalkeeper Rob Hennelly retires from Mayo after 13 years of service

The 34-yaer-old Breaffy man played in three All-Ireland finals

Michael Murphy coolly slots his penalty past Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly, but Donegal failed to capitalise on that breakthrough on Saturday night. Picture by Sportsfile
Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly has announced his inter-county retirement

Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly has announced his retirement from inter-county football, the county has confirmed.

The 34-year-old made 43 league and 32 Championship appearances in a career that stretches back 13 years.

The Breaffy native, who played in three All-Irelands, first shot to prominence on the Mayo minor team which won the Connacht Championship in 2008, before eventually losing the All-Ireland final to Tyrone in a replay.

He won seven Connacht SFC titles (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2021); two Allianz League titles (2019 and 2023); was twice nominated for All Star awards (2013 and 2021); and scored 0-38 in the Mayo jersey.

His final appearance for Mayo was against Tyrone in Omagh in the Allianz League in February 2024.

In a county board statement, it read: “Rob was based in Dublin and made hundreds of trips westwards for training sessions and matches. That level of commitment, and the way he dedicated himself to developing his skills, particularly at a time of great evolution of the goalkeeping role, earned him the deep respect of Mayo supporters.”