CIARAN Whelan has announced his retirement from inter-county football.

The veteran midfielder had flagged his intention to walk away after 14 years of service with Dublin in the days after their massive All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry but having met with management since, he has now confirmed his decision to hang up his inter-county boots.

"Deep down in my own mind, I knew this would be the last year," Whelan told the Herald. "I discussed it with the family at home and the way the year turned out, playing a limited amount of time and given the amount of commitment and effort that goes into it. It's really a time factor."

The Raheny clubman, who amassed six Leinster titles and two All Stars after making his debut in the 1996 Leinster final against Meath, revealed that he could no longer give the commitment required for another season at the top level and said that physically, he had found last season a struggle, but stressed that he had no regrets.

"My body isn't recovering as quick as I'd like," Whelan explained. "Every year the commitments are getting bigger. I reached the stage in my own head where I was quite clear that it was time to move on. But I've enjoyed every minute of it. For 14 years it's been a childhood dream come true. I wouldn't change any bit of it."

The 33 year-old cut a peripheral figure this season, starting all four of Dublin's championship matches on the bench, though his services were required in each leg of their successful Leinster campaign.

He was summoned to the fray after just 15 minutes of the Kerry tie as Pat Gilroy's men were blitzed by an early Kingdom salvo, prompting some criticism of management for failing to start their most decorated and established midfielder.

However, Whelan is adamant that this season was always going to be his last, regardless of how it panned out on a personal level and stressed that he had "no issues" with the selection of Ross McConnell and Darren Magee in the two midfield spots.

"I was clear in my own mind that this year was my last year and I kind of made up my mind that I was giving it one last go under the new management," he said. "Even if I had played more, I just know from the training this year that I found it very, very tough."

A former captain of the Dubs in 2003 and 2004 under Tommy Lyons' stewardship, Whelan added that the collapse to Kerry was still "mind-boggling" but added that there was "definitely a way back for this Dublin team."

He is, however, set to play for Raheny against Lucan Sarsfields in Thursday night's Evening Herald Dublin SFC last 16 tie and confirmed his intentions to continue playing club football for at least another season.

- Conor McKeon