Frankie Sheahan Retires

Cool_CM

From Irish Times

Sheahan calls it a day
Frankie Sheahan has been forced to abandon plans to see out his career in the French Top-14 and will instead hang up his boots with immediate effect. The former Ireland and Munster hooker had been due to link up with Brive this summer but injury has now ended his career.


Sheahan aggravated an existing pectoral injury muscle during his final appearance for Munster in April and has reluctantly called it a day.

The 29-time capped Irish hooker, who played for Munster 169 times in his 14 seasons with the province, had been looking forward to linking up with new Brive recruit Rikki Flutey, as well as Steve Thompson and Andy Goode.

“I had injured the pec' against Connacht at Christmas and at that stage the medics reckoned it a career ending injury,' he said today.

'But I'd been in this position before, had an operation on it in January and with the help of the Munster medical team and fitness coaches I got back into contention for selection for the end of the season games.

'However I took another knock (pec) in that game and soon after accepted what the medics were telling me and I've decided to call it a day.'

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2009/0721/1224251042596.html

Shame, would have been interesting to see how he got on in France, even if he was in the latter stages of his career.

thomond2006

Great player for Munster, shame about the injury. :(

Diabhal Beag

He had a great career. Tis a shame but I'm sure he will be successful outside of rugby.

stevensi

A great servant for Munster...best of luck for the future....

vorbis

A great player for Munster, best of luck to him in the future.

razorblunt

Well earned retirement, at least he's nicely setup with his business now as well.

sm.org

Has been playing for Munster as long as I've been watching them. Comes across as a decent guy and a good laugh in the dressing room. I'm sure he'll do well in his business with he's personality.

WeeBushy

He has been ballsed by injury and could even be a blessing in disguise. He'll get out of the sport in relatively good health. Pity to see such a great servant to the game leave because of injury though.

[Jackass]

Terrible shame to see his career end in that way. He deserved a last season or two in France.

Great servant to Irish and Munster rugby and best of luck to him.

ScrubsfanChris

sm.org wrote: »

Has been playing for Munster as long as I've been watching them. Comes across as a decent guy and a good laugh in the dressing room. I'm sure he'll do well in his business with he's personality.

Same here, cant remember a time when he wasnt playing for Munster.

Aidric

He was a distinctly average player who none the less enjoyed a long career. In fairness he always done a good job when called on by Munster but he was nothing more than a solid pro. Good luck to him with his new endeavours.

anonymous_joe

Bit unfair on the guy, he might not have been as good as the likes of Wood or Flannery, but he was a solid hooker.

Good luck to him anyway.

Aidric

That's what I said, a solid pro.

Sangre

I don't think you get 29 caps being 'distinctively average'. An average player is a club player, not an international one. Definitely a disservice to him to call him that.

Aidric

Sangre wrote: »

I don't think you get 29 caps being 'distinctively average'. An average player is a club player, not an international one. Definitely a disservice to him to call him that.

Not really. We weren't exactly blessed with a crop of good hookers when Frankie was playing. He fulfilled the best of the rest selection quite well when called upon.

Sangre

So the average rugby players career involves 29 internataionl caps?

anonymous_joe

Sangre wrote: »

So the average rugby players career involves 29 internataionl caps?

Looking at how small our playing pool is, yeah.

Seriously, Frankie was a good player, he played international rugby, he didn't let Ireland down, he didn't blow us away, he's had a very good career he can be proud of.

thomond2006

I wouldn't say no to 29 caps.

thebaz

I guess average is relative , some may think all players in Ireland are average except BOD - but then to be an average International player is a pretty good achievment - how many here have worn the green .... his throwing was a bit suspect , but that aside never let Ireland or Munster down - best of luck in retirement , it must be awfull to retire so soon

Trojan

Don't make me ban anyone. (It'll be a 2 month ban if you force it cos you've been warned).

--

He was a good player, and will be missed. What's his business?

makker

Sangre wrote: »

So the average rugby players career involves 29 internataionl caps?

In fairness a lot of his 29 caps would have come as a replacement from the bench!

curts82

Trojan wrote: »

Don't make me ban anyone. (It'll be a 2 month ban if you force it cos you've been warned).

--

He was a good player, and will be missed. What's his business?

Not 100% sure but I think him and his brother have a mortgage place. Also I know he rents a few apartments!! Great Servant.

buck65

Seemed to be injured for the past 2 years!

chupacabra

Sad to hear he is retiring. A great servant to Munster and Irish rugby over the years. Im glad i was there to cheer him onto and off of the field on the night of his final ever rugby game.

Stev_o

A very good servant to Munster and Ireland, not the most talented player ever produced but he always gave 100%. Also very unlucky with the return of Wood to Munster, remember reading in "From There to Here" that he was absolutely gutted when he heard on Newstalk that Wood was returning as it meant he was going to be benching for Munster till Woody retired.

Aidric

Stev_o wrote: »

remember reading in "From There to Here" that he was absolutely gutted when he heard on Newstalk that Wood was returning as it meant he was going to be benching for Munster till Woody retired.

It was good news for Munster fans.

theKramer

Aidric wrote: »

It was good news for Munster fans.

Jesus, you're a bitter man. Show the guy some respect.

Anyway, funny story.

Was out for my brothers stag in Cork back in April and we were looking for a pub that was showing the Munster v Leinster Magners League game.
One of my brothers' friends goes up to a guy and the bar and asked a guy at the bar were they showing the Munster game on TV, as they were showing some soccer game or something.

My brothers' friend didnt realise who it was he was asking until yer man answered him. He had gone up to Frankie Sheehan. Im sure Frankie was delighted to be reminded he wasnt playing in that game

monaghanbiffo

D'OH

jayteecork

Sangre wrote: »

I don't think you get 29 caps being 'distinctively average'. An average player is a club player, not an international one. Definitely a disservice to him to call him that.

Kevin Maggs has about 80 caps I think.
How do you explain that?

In fairness Frankie is a nice enough guy, met him in Lebowski's one night.

Aidric

theKramer wrote: »

Jesus, you're a bitter man. Show the guy some respect.

Bitter, lol. Could you point out where it was I didn't show him respect? I said in my OP he was a solid pro, just nothing special.

siltirocker

jayteecork wrote: »

Kevin Maggs has about 80 caps I think.
How do you explain that?

In fairness Frankie is a nice enough guy, met him in Lebowski's one night.

F*CK OFF!!!:eek::eek::eek: 80 caps! Maggs! That cannot be right!

Crash

70 actually: http://www.rugbyinteractive.com/node/26

P_1

Sad to see him have to retire. I think the fairest analysis of his career would be to say that while he was a very good player he had the misfortune of being overshadowed by 2 world class players (Wood and Flan) at the beginning and end of his career.

Best of luck to him for the future.

horse and cart

Should probably have more caps was a much better player than Shane Byrne and he played on a Lions tour. Ridiculous!

pappyodaniel

Seen Frankie drinking in The Raven in Cork on Thursday with some randomer. That randomer turned about to be none other than Anthony Horgan, the same Anthony Horgan who is Munster's all time top try scorer (i think that fact is correct, i might be wrong). Frankie looked like a rugby player, Hogs not so much.
Mad for sauce.

jayteecork

pappyodaniel wrote: »

Seen Frankie drinking in The Raven in Cork on Thursday with some randomer. That randomer turned about to be none other than Anthony Horgan, the same Anthony Horgan who is Munster's all time top try scorer (i think that fact is correct, i might be wrong). Frankie looked like a rugby player, Hogs not so much.
Mad for sauce.

Yeah he's always cropping up the bar somwhere.
Smokes like a chimney too, probably the unfittest guy to ever line out for Munster and Ireland. Well him and Neil Francis.

Didn't Anthony literally nearly die in Samoa during a game, of exhausation?

Aidric

jayteecork wrote: »

Didn't Anthony literally nearly die in Samoa during a game, of exhausation?

Was it not from sunburn?

jayteecork

Aidric wrote: »

Was it not from sunburn?

Probably, but his physical condition didn't help matters!

Size=everything

Good riddens in my eyes I never trusted him after the steroid scandal.

Ehhhh its for my asthma.....thats why I'm taking over 1000 times the recommended dose..

Max Power1

farewell..

would have won more caps (for both ireland and munster) if he werent behind woody and flannery for both province and country

anonymous_joe

Max Power1 wrote: »

farewell..

would have won more caps (for both ireland and munster) if he werent behind woody and flannery for both province and country

When you think of it, Frankie Sheehan played at the same time as some very talented players. The likes of Rory Best, Shane Byrne, Bernard Jackman, Woodie, Fla, etc are all very good players. He was a very good player to get any recognition amongst lads like that.

pappyodaniel

I've heard from my sources that he's bein lined up for a media job. It's not outta the question, i've seen him interviewed on the sideline during matches he wasn't involved in. He's a good character, knows his stuff and more importantly he's been there and done that.

jayteecork

Frankie runs a Mortgage business in Cork as well.
http://www.mymortgages.ie/about.html