Westmeath football star retires from inter-county scene
Ger Egan, undoubtedly one of Westmeath's best players of modern times, has announced his retirement from inter-county football.
Egan has the distinction of being the only man to captain Westmeath in two Leinster senior football finals (2015 and 2016).
Renowned for his workrate, scoring ability and overall dedication to the Westmeath cause, Egan has been dogged by injury setbacks in the last few years.
Egan's decision to retire is a blow to Westmeath manager Dessie Dolan ahead of the 2023 season, as his experience and ability will be sorely missed, albeit the news is not a surprise considering the injury problems the Tyrrellspass player has endured.
In both the 2015 and 2016 Leinster finals, Westmeath came up against a formidable Dublin team which went on to win the All-Ireland title. Westmeath qualified for the 2005 Leinster decider by virtue of a famous and historic victory over Meath.
Paying tribute to Egan's superb contribution on Facebook and wishing him "the very best of luck for the future", Westmeath GAA described the Tyrrellspass clubman as "one of our most important players this millennium".
Outlining some of his achievements, Westmeath GAA stated: "Egan first put on the maroon and white jersey in 2010 and has since then helped the Lake County to a Division 3 League (scoring 1-7 v Laois) and O'Byrne Cup (scoring 1-5 v Dublin) title in 2019, Division 4 League (kicking 1-2 v Wexford) title in 2017 as captain, as well as being part of this year's victorious Tailteann Cup panel.
"Egan has the great accolade of being 2019's National Football League overall top scorer with 3-50, finishing one point ahead of Kerry's Sean O'Shea.
"The talented attacker also has the proud honour of being team captain when our footballers defeated Meath for the first time ever in the 2015 Leinster Championship at Croke Park, as well as being the first, and, as of now, only Westmeath man to captain his county to two Leinster finals (2015 & 2016). Egan will be forever remembered as one of our county's most gifted forwards. Thanks for everything Ger!"
Egan has consistently produced outstanding displays at club level for Tyrrellspass but a Westmeath senior championship medal has so far eluded him. Tyrrellspass contested four Westmeath SFC finals over the past decade, but lost out to St Loman's, Mullingar on each occasion (2013, 2016, 2017 and 2020).
From Rahugh, Egan is a former student of Athlone Institute of Technology (now Technological University of the Shannon) and he represented the Athlone side in the Sigerson Cup with distinction on many occasions.
Extending best wishes to TUS/AIT graduate Egan on his retirement from inter-county football, TUS Midlands Sport described Ger as "one of the most talented and committed senior footballers" to ever grace the campus.
Egan was part of a talented Westmeath U-21 team which reached the 2010 Leinster final, with many members of that team going on to star at senior level.