Crowley’s time up at Kingdom

KERRY’S swashbuckling defender Peter Crowley has called time on his county career.

The 30-year-old will now concentrate on helping his club Laune Rangers regain their senior status.

Having played with the Kerry minors in 2008 and then two years at under-21 level in 2010 and 2011,

Jack O’connor gave Crowley his League debut in 2011 against Cork.

He later started in the 2014 All-ireland final victory against Donegal and became an outstanding defender under both Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Peter Keane.

His performances in 2014 saw him win an All-star and he was picked for the International Rules squad that played

Australia in 2017.

The Killorglin pharmacist also boasts seven Munster Championship medals, two League titles, a Sigerson Cup with UCC and a Cork SFC medal in 2011.

Loving to join the attack, he will perhaps be most fondly remembered by Kerry supporters for punching the winning point against Jim Gavin’s Dublin at a packed Austin Stack Park in 2017.

Injuries dogged the defender, though, and he suffered a season-ending knee injury while on club duty for Laune Rangers in April 2019.

It was a setback that saw him miss out on Kerry’s All-ireland final later that year when they failed to stop Dublin’s five in a row bid.

Last season Crowley helped Mid Kerry reach the Kerry SFC final, but they were well beaten by East Kerry and Crowley appeared to be struggling to regain full fitness.

He would return to Championship action with Kerry in November and his final match for the Kingdom would prove to be a shock Munster Championship loss to Cork.

It is believed injury and work commitments have made up Crowley’s mind.

RETIRED Peter Crowley has quit county football