Antrim hurling star, Neil McManus, has brought the curtain down on his 17-year inter-county career.

The 35-year old Cushendall forward made his debut against Dublin in 2007 in the National League and went out on a high by helping the Saffrons beat Westmeath in the Leinster SHC relegation play-off last month.

One of the finest forwards of his era, McManus won two Joe McDonagh Cups and is happy he’s leaving the team in a good place with Antrim holding onto their Division One status for a fourth consecutive season.

“These players want to progress, they fear nobody and our top players are as good as any of the top players in the country,” McManus told the Irish News.

“Okay, we still have a way to go in developing the whole panel, but that’s a longer-term process. We’re a very different team than we were three years ago.

“Things have changed in my life, obviously. I’ve a young daughter. I want to spend more time with her and my wife. I’d spend my day working in Belfast in a fairly demanding job and you train so much nowadays, and then you’re home after bedtime.

“It’s a huge commitment and I never wanted to do it less than 100%. I’m very happy with the way I’m leaving it. I can live with it knowing that I gave it all that I could. I’m really looking forward to giving more to my club.

“I’m looking forward to spending more time at home and will enjoy watching Antrim next year and I know they’ll give the fans some great days.

“What a privilege it was to play for Antrim for so long. It was a joy and the honour of my life.”