Lord of the Dance
Galway's Johnny Coen has retired from intercounty hurling
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Galway's Johnny Coen has retired from intercounty hurling

Johnny Coen, Galway's All-Ireland winning midfielder from 2017 has decided to hang up his boots. 

Coen(31) has been ever present in the Galway time since 2011 and has experienced the highs and lows of intercounty hurling.

He was part of the Galway side that lost both the 2012 and 2015 All-Ireland final, but managed to avenge those defeats with the 2017 victory over Waterford.

The Loughrea man also won three Leinster SHC medals and two National Leagues in the maroon of Galway.

Coen now becomes the fifth player from that team to announce his retirement.

Colm Callanan, Aidan Harte, John Hanbury, and Joe Canning have all left the intercounty scene since that famous win five years ago.

Tweeting the news today, the Galway midfielder said he would be walking away from intercounty duties but will still play for his club side Loughrea

“It’s been a huge honour and privilege to play senior hurling with Galway.

"Now the time has come to retire from inter-county after 12 years in the maroon and white. It’s been some journey from corner-back to corner-forward and everything in between,” Coen said  onTuesday evening.

“I would like to thank my wife Meadhbh, my wonderful family and friends for their constant support over the years. We have all enjoyed the journey and have covered every corner of Ireland with the maroon and white.

“I’ve been privileged to share a dressing-room with so many wonderful players and work with great people and great management teams along the way, which I am forever grateful for.”

"I'd like also to thank the Galway supporters who have travelled the length and breath of the country supporting us."

"I am fortunate to be part of an incredible GAA club in Loughrea and look forward to continuing my career in the blue and yellow for many more years to come.