Sad news as Keith Fahey forced to retire from football due to injury

Shamrock Rovers have confirmed that former Irish international Keith Fahey has hung up his boots for good.

The League of Ireland club announced that a knee and hip injury has forced the midfielder to prematurely end his professional career. Fahey spoke about his difficult decision  to leave the beautiful game on Shamrock Rovers' official website, whom he signed for at the beginning of the 2015 season.

"Unfortunately I have had to come to this decision after taking advice from the doctor and surgeon, I feel that it is the right time to finish playing professional football. I’d like to thank everyone that has supported me, managed me and played with me during my time playing football.”

Rovers boss Pat Fenlon also commended the midfielder for his influence on the team, before wishing him luck on the next chapter of his life.

“Keith will be a big loss to Shamrock Rovers and the League of Ireland in general, He has been a central part of our squad this season and has been a great influence on the players, particularly the younger members of our squad.” “We will miss his experience at the club, experience he brought from playing at the top level of English football, in addition to his international career, and I want to wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Fahey earned 16 caps for Ireland under Giovanni Trapattoni, scoring three goals for his country. PErhaps the highlight of his international career was bagging a crucial winner in the 1-0 away win to Armenia in September 2010, which ultimately helped Ireland secure qualification for Euro 2012. He began his club career as a trainee at Arsenal before moving to Aston Villa. Fahey was also a great servant to the Irish domestic league, making 178 league appearances for St. Patrick’s Athletic scoring 25 goals for the Dublin side. He helped Drogheda United during claim the 2006 Setanta Sports Cup. The Dubliner moved back across the Irish Sea in 2008 and made 121 appearances for Birmingham City over four years. He helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League in 2009 with his goal on the final day of that season and was a part of the team that defeated Arsenal in the 2011 League Cup in Wembley.