Philip Mahony has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling with Waterford.
The Ballygunner wing-back is still only 28, and made his Deise debut in 2011.
News of Mahony's retirement will come as a massive blow to new Waterford manager Liam Cahill, with the start of their Allianz Hurling League campaign against Cork just three-weeks away.
His older brother Pauric will captain Waterford this year.
Mahony's had woeful luck with injuries in recent years. He had his inter-county season ended in May of last year after sustaining a broken tibia in their Munster Hurling Championship defeat to Tipperary.
That break came five years after he suffered a double leg fracture and a dislocated ankle while playing for Ballygunner against Ardmore in the Waterford championship.
Philip Mahony has tonight announced his retirement from intercounty hurling. Waterford GAA would like to thank Philip for his commitment and dedication to Waterford Hurling over the last number of years. We wish him all the Best for the future. pic.twitter.com/XkvhEJZzPX
— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) January 3, 2020
He helped Waterford claim the 2015 Allianz Hurling League title, and had been on the fringes of the 2010 panel that won provincial honours.
Mahony was joint captain of the Ballygunner side that were pipped to the Munster Club title by just a point by Borris-Ileigh in November.
A Waterford statement thanked Mahony for "his commitment and dedication to Waterford Hurling over the last number of years" and wished him the best for his future.
However, his retirement is a spanner in the works for Cahill who told the Waterford News & Star in December that he'd looked at 55 players to that point in preparation for his first season in charge.
Waterford's Munster Hurling League campaign began with a 1-17 to 1-13 loss to Cork on December 29, and they're set to face Kerry in Tralee this weekend.
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