*Seadna Morey gets away from Declan Dalton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TWO-TIME All-Ireland winner Séadna Morey has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.
Clare GAA confirmed the retirement of the Sixmilebridge man on Thursday night. He becomes the second member of the All-Ireland winning 2024 panel to go out on a high, following in the footsteps of Ballyea’s Paul Flanagan.
He first to prominence on the county scene as a star corner back on the Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor managed Clare minor sides which won provincial titles in 2010 and 2011. He would also win three U21 All-Ireland and Munster minor championships under the same management from 2012 to 2014.
Séadna made his senior championship debut against Waterford in the 2012 Munster SHC, coming on as a substitute at wing-back. This outing was Davy Fitzgerald’s first as Clare senior manager. He made his starting debut that summer against an Anthony Daly managed Dublin in Cusack Park in a tie that also marked Tony Kelly’s first Clare senior start.
A year later, Clare climbed the summit and Séadna was introduced as a substitute and his turnover and subsequent burst from defence saw him find Darach Honan who went on his way to seal the All-Ireland win. He added further silverware in 2016 when winning his first National League medal.
During Brian Lohan’s first year as Clare manager, Séadna featured for every minute of championship action in their 2020 campaign which saw them eliminated in the quarter-finals by Waterford.
Morey opted out for the 2021 season but returned at the beginning of 2022 and remained part of the panel for the last three campaigns including the epic All-Ireland win over Cork this July when he was introduced for Cathal Malone with eighty seven minutes played.
In total, he made 44 championship appearances at senior level for Clare, scoring 1-8 along the way while playing in a multitude of positions.
This year, Séadna and his partner Orlaith Duggan an excellent camogie player herself, welcomed the arrival of their daughter Fiadhna.
At club level, Séadna has won five Clare senior hurling championships, for their 2019 success over Cratloe he was joint captain alongside Noel Purcell.
Morey was described as “one of Clare’s most versatile and decorated players” in a statement by Clare GAA confirming his retirement. “We sincerely thank Séadna for everything he has done to represent Clare at the highest level since his debut 12 years ago. His speed, versatility and consistency have been key ingredients in both Clare’s All-Ireland success this year and over the past decade, and more in setting the standards and culture required for inter-county success”.
PRO of Sixmilebridge GAA club, Ian Chaplin said Séadna was “an inspiration to most of our younger boys”. He stated, “It was a privilege to have watched Séadna down through the years following the Clare team and we had great days out in Croke Park and beyond”.
Alongside his cousin Chloe, Séadna opened ‘Morey Movement’ in November 2021. Located in Sixmilebridge, it has proven to be a successful enterprise with the gym used by a hosts of sporting teams across the county. He will continue to line out with his native Sixmilebridge.
