LoI Legend Retires

Xavi6

Deserves a thread of its own imo considering the player in question won every major honour in the domestic game and put in great shifts for a number of league clubs.

Really enjoyed watching him at Shels so cheers for the memories Ollie Cahill.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0124/cahillo.html

Ollie Cahill hangs up his boots

Former Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne winger Ollie Cahill has called time on his soccer career.

Cahill, who won every honour in the Irish game, began his career in England with Northampton, Cahill, 36, returned to play with Cork City, Shelbourne, Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers, Sporting Fingal and Bohemians.

The Clonmel native won league titles with Shelbourne (three times), Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers.

He has also ends his career with a medal in each cup competition, lifting the FAI Cup and League Cup with Cork and the Setanta Cup with Drogheda.

"I've thought long and hard about it over the course of the last few months and although I feel I still have something left to offer, I've reached a stage in my life where there are other priorities," Cahill told www.pfai.ie.

"My wife and I have recently had our first child and spending more time with them has to come first. The wages in the league now are so low that it would be difficult to justify playing when I could be at home.

"I have been lucky enough to have been working with the PFAI for the last three years and want to concentrate on my job there. I'm looking forward to having a more hands on role now that I won't be playing."

Cahill has been working with the PFAI as Delegate Liaison Officer since 2009 and will now focus on that roll fulltime.

Gavin "shels"

Like yourself Xavi, always enjoyed watching Cahill play, was a great player with some great feet.

BOHtox

What a great player he was! Lightning quick down that left-wing for Shels.
Unfortunately he was injured a lot of last year but it was great to see him bombing down the line and skinning defenders like he would have done 10 years ago. He also had the game of his life in the 1-1 away to Rovers.

Helix

great servant to the game in ireland

GLaDOS

Going off last year, he definitely had a year or two left, still has some pace left in him! Good luck to him in future endeavours.

stovelid

Thought he was still looking for a club via the PFAI.

Great pro and did a decent enough job for us in 2009 even though his best years were past him.

Pure_Cork

Judas Cahill

Pedro K

I thought he was fairly limited in his time at Rovers. He just seemed to look at his feet and make for the corner flag, rarely looking up or into the box. It was quite frustrating at times. However, I could never question his commitment. He was a pro and always gave 100%.

I wish him the best in his retirement.

gimmick

Ollies pockets went ching-a-ling-a-ling.

stovelid

Pure_Cork wrote: »

Judas Cahill

Corinthian spirit alert.

bohsman

Will always remember him for the goal he scored against Shels for Cork to win Bohs the league. The nerves stood waiting on the Buckley Park pitch for confirmation of the final whistle in Tolka are unforgettable. Could never hate him after that, no matter who he played for.

eagle eye

Pure_Cork wrote: »

Judas Cahill

Judas? You mean for deciding after bursting his backside for Cork City for 6 years to then move on and make a few quid for himself?

You really haven't a clue about anything if you would call that man anything other than a great servant to the Irish football. Its amazing how some people forget all the good things a player done for a club because he finally decided to make a sensible decision for his future and make a few quid for himself.

gimmick

eagle eye wrote: »

Judas? You mean for deciding after bursting his backside for Cork City for 6 years to then move on and make a few quid for himself?

You really haven't a clue about anything if you would call that man anything other than a great servant to the Irish football. Its amazing how some people forget all the good things a player done for a club because he finally decided to make a sensible decision for his future and make a few quid for himself.

Yes, all of us football fans are bastions of sensibility when it comes to former players. Well done :rolleyes:

stovelid

Why not boo Dan Murray so?

Jumpted ship to us when you went down a division and would have stayed with us this season if SK had offered him a contract.

For the most part, the league is too small and players are not paid enough to be loyal.

gimmick

stovelid wrote: »

Why not boo Dan Murray so?

Jumpted ship to us when you went down a division and would have stayed with us this season if SK had offered him a contract.

For the most part, the league is too small and players are not paid enough to be loyal.

Because he was left with no option. There were no professional contracts being given out when he left, so that was that.

Cahill leaving City was entirely different. There was plenty money on the table for him, a decent squad was being built but he chose Shels.

Captain Havoc

LOI players are hardly on mega bucks, I think it's unfair to criticise a player for moving for better wages. I've certainly moved jobs in the past for higher wages and I will again.

dahat

Best of Luck for the future Olllie......

Hope he comes home to Clonmel to pass on his knowledge to the kids like Steven Napier did after his career ended.......

stovelid

gimmick wrote: »

Because he was left with no option. There were no professional contracts being given out when he left, so that was that.

Murray would have stayed for another season with us had he been offered a new contract, despite your promotion.

gimmick

So what? No one would blame him for wanting to stay at Shams given the current purple period they are having.

stovelid

gimmick wrote: »

So what? No one would blame him for wanting to stay at Shams given the current purple period they are having.

I agree.

The wages are too small in this league (and the number of clubs too small) to expect loyalty all the time.

Sure, I have to look at that pox Brennan in Hoops next season don't I? :pac:

_blank_

One of my all time favourite players.

Nice guy too.

Paparazzo

Is Ollie Cahill still the only man from Tipp to play in the Champions League? Legend!

gimmick wrote: »

Because he was left with no option. There were no professional contracts being given out when he left, so that was that.

Cahill leaving City was entirely different. There was plenty money on the table for him, a decent squad was being built but he chose Shels.

Not sure if that's a joke! Type all that, and call the shels fans bitter :pac:
Ollie wanted to win things. I doubt he regrets moving to shels.

dfx-

gimmick wrote: »

So what? No one would blame him for wanting to stay at Shams given the current purple period they are having.

Shels had a purple period around when he was there, iirc. 5 league titles, cups (?) and until Murray at Rovers, the highest appearances in Europe. Not bad. Absolute star player around 1999-2002

Cahill and Rutherford populate that area of "played for everyone and no bad word against them" in the LOI.

Dozen Wicked Words

Was a favourite at the Cobblers, played in a relatively successful Northampton team, if the manager hadn't played such direct football he would have been used a lot more.

markc1184

Great player. Used to love watching him play during his time at Drogheda.

Corholio

Will be remembered by me at the Cross fondly. Played in an era where at times we really had some unexciting players, he was a lot of the time the only player with a bit of spark on display. Still haven't seen anyone beat full backs at the Cross like he used to do.

Best of luck Ollie.

The_Kew_Tour

As Cork fan, wish Ollie all the best.

Great servant to Cork and the league.

A true winger on his day.

applehunter

The only good thing about Cork City for a couple of years in the late 90's early 00's. Scored plenty of goals and loads of assists. Exactly what you want from a winger.

Have met him a few times since and he has no regrets pointing to his league medals etc. that he won but having gone to Shels the way he did left a sour taste at the time.

iregk

All the best Ollie, you were great in your day and always a model player.

Crazy Horse 6

Who?

WindmillWarrior

markc1184 wrote: »

Great player. Used to love watching him play during his time at Drogheda.

Ditto. Was a good player for us. Always put in a good shift

RefulgentGnomon

Cahill....Moore....it's come down for ROGERS!

_blank_

RefulgentGnomon wrote: »

Cahill....Moore....it's come down for ROGERS!

...oh what a goal, what a fabulous goal!!!!

stovelid

Why was my post removed but a blatantly trolling one ( that is only likely to trigger more of the same responses) left?

BOHtox

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Who?

The fact you don't know who he is says more about you than it does him.

CSF

I dont think I would use the word legend to attach to Ollie Cahill as I don't think he ever really achieved legendary status at any of his clubs.

At Cork he left very unpopular, at Shels he never left the legacy of some of the players he played with (Stuey Byrne, Crawford, Dillon etc) and he never really stayed long enough anywhere else to achieve cult status.

Ultimately an excellent player who achieved success almost wherever he went, but for me will ultimately fall into the Jason Byrne category of excellent ex-LOI players who cared too much about their own pocket to ever achieve hero status at one club.

paddy978

CSF wrote: »

I dont think I would use the word legend to attach to Ollie Cahill as I don't think he ever really achieved legendary status at any of his clubs.

At Cork he left very unpopular, at Shels he never left the legacy of some of the players he played with (Stuey Byrne, Crawford, Dillon etc) and he never really stayed long enough anywhere else to achieve cult status.

Ultimately an excellent player who achieved success almost wherever he went, but for me will ultimately fall into the Jason Byrne category of excellent ex-LOI players who cared too much about their own pocket to ever achieve hero status at one club.

Very harsh.

CSF

paddy978 wrote: »

CSF wrote: »

I dont think I would use the word legend to attach to Ollie Cahill as I don't think he ever really achieved legendary status at any of his clubs.

At Cork he left very unpopular, at Shels he never left the legacy of some of the players he played with (Stuey Byrne, Crawford, Dillon etc) and he never really stayed long enough anywhere else to achieve cult status.

Ultimately an excellent player who achieved success almost wherever he went, but for me will ultimately fall into the Jason Byrne category of excellent ex-LOI players who cared too much about their own pocket to ever achieve hero status at one club.

Very harsh.

I don't see how. Legend is one of the most prestigious accolades one could bestow on a footballer. Only a very small few can be. I don't see how it is an insult to suggest one is not part of that very small pocket of heroes.

applehunter

What did Sean Dillon ever do to earn more of a status than Ollie Cahill at Shels?

Sean Dillon will be remembered for his days at Longford not Shels.

paddy978

Your comment about him caring too much about his pocket was very distasteful. Whats wrong with him going where the money is best as he has to make a living?

applehunter

Maybe CSF is still bitter about 2001 when Ollie scored for City at Tolka to see Shels bottle another title on the last day.;)

The_Kew_Tour

applehunter wrote: »

Maybe CSF is still bitter about 2001 when Ollie scored for City at Tolka to see Shels bottle another title on the last day.;)

Nothing changed 10 years on:pac::pac::pac:

Richard Hillman

Quality player. I remember Shels were playing Bray (or UCD). We were about 3 or 4 goals up and everyone kept shouting shoot when a player was miles out. Cahill took his turn and hit one in over the absent keepers head from about 40 yards. Probably my favorite memory of him. It didnt take long for me to forgive him after his goal for Cork in 2001, which sums how good of a player he was. Seems like a top lad as well.

dan1895

A great player and a gent off the pitch. i was hoping he'd end his career with us after our promotion, although this was about 4 years ago and I didn't think it'd take so long.

dreamers75

Dave Rogers retired also.

_blank_

dreamers75 wrote: »

Dave Rogers retired also.

he can stay retired.