Brilliant Gooch set the bar high

Having had the honour of being entertained by the skills of Kerry footballer Colm Cooper over the past 17 years, news of his retirement from inter-county football at the relatively young age of 33 will be met with much regret by supporters and players of all counties.

What a pity he didn’t time his retirement until after the National League Final featuring Kerry and Dublin, as he would be assured of a well-deserved spectacular goodbye from those Dubs on Hill 16 whom he tormented at times with his brilliance.

Cooper is part of the current generation of GAA players playing football and hurling exclusively as amateurs with no monetary compensation. This epitomises the original ideals of sport, which are worth guarding zealously. Tom Cooper (no relation), Templeogue, Dublin 6W.