Cha rubbishes talk of Dubs switch

Frank Roche

FORMER Kilkenny All Star James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick has rubbished rumours suggesting that he could become a Sky Blue in the future following his shock retirement from inter-county hurling this week.

"I'm going to continue hurling with Ballyhale Shamrocks - that's about it at the moment.

"I don't see myself returning (to intercounty action). I've achieved all the goals I wanted to achieve," the 26-year-old declared, confirming there had been no contact from the Dublin camp.

"I'd have liked to hurl for a few more years in the (Kilkenny) set-up but I'm just going to go back and enjoy my hurling with Ballyhale Shamrocks.

"You have to enjoy it too and when you're sitting on a sideline looking in, the enjoyment goes out of it," he added.

Fitzpatrick lives and works in the capital, prompting some media organs to speculate that a move to the Dubs could be on the cards - but under GAA rules this could only happen if he also joined a Dublin club and the above quotes indicate this is certainly not on the cards.