WEXFORD defender Matthew O’Hanlon has called time on his 14-year senior inter-county hurling career.
The St James’, Ramsgrange clubman first joined the Wexford senior set-up in 2011, having played for Loch Garman’s underage sides in both hurling and gaelic football.
O’Hanlon made his debut in the National League against Galway, with his championship debut coming against Antrim that summer.
It took him three seasons to establish himself as a leader in the squad and in 2014 he was made the captain of the side under Liam Dunne.
“It’s been a privilege to wear the purple and gold and one of the greatest honours of my life to have had the opportunity to lead this group,” said O’Hanlon.
“I’ve loved every minute of it and will cherish the friendships and memories I’ve made forever.
Mercurial forward Lee Chin joined him as joint-captain in 2017, when they went through their most successful period in O’Hanlon’s career.
In 2019, O’Hanlon reached the peak of his career when he won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and lifted the Bob O’Keefe Cup alongside Chin at Croke Park, beating Kilkenny in the final.
He also holds three Walsh Cup medals in 2018, 2020, and 2024, and an inter-provincial title with Leinster in 2014, while he received an All-Star nomination on three occasions in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
A dual star in his youth, O’Hanlon also was part of the Wexford side that won the 2011 Leinster Under-21 Football Championship by defeating Longford in the final.
Overall, he achieved 140 competitive appearances for his county, with 70 of them coming in championship hurling.
Wexford senior hurling manager and a former teammate of O’Hanlon, Keith Rossiter, paid tribute to him upon his inter-county retirement.
“I would like to thank Matthew for the commitment and dedication that he has given to his county over the past 14 seasons,” he said.
“Once he settled into his place, he rapidly became a leader amongst his peers and has played a very influential role over the past number of years.
“A player of immense skill and talent, he has battled with the best, never losing his ability to be true to his own very fine character. It has been an honour and a privilege to have both played with and managed such a great player. ”
On the club side of things with St James', the half-back helped take his club from the pit of Wexford hurling all the way to the intermediate championship final, only to lose out on playing senior hurling in the last two years.
The long-serving Matthew O'Hanlon has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling, after 14 years with our senior team. All in Wexford GAA thank him for his service, and wish him all the best for the future.https://t.co/jP9oyQgwKT
— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) December 28, 2024
He has won Junior A, Junior and Intermediate A titles with the Ramsgrange side.
His highest achievement at club level has come in football though, having won a Wexford Senior Football Championship with St. James’ in 2015.
Off the field, Matthew has been centrally involved in improving support for inter-county players with the Gaelic Players Association for a number of years, and most recently served a three-year term as the co-chairperson.
A tribute to O’Hanlon on the GPA’s social media platforms highlighted his work towards gaelic games integration for the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.
Wexford chairman John Kenny also paid tribute to the devoted and talented hurler.
“Matthew continued a long family tradition with the Association. A true leader and warrior, He has been one of Wexford’s most consistent performers at both inter-county and club level for many seasons.
On the field, he displayed tremendous courage and tenacity and was never found wanting in the heat of battle, while off the field, Matthew was an excellent ambassador for Wexford."