ST BRIGID’S Noelle Healy has announced her retirement from intercounty football with Dublin after an incredible career, highlighted by five All-Ireland senior championship titles.
In addition to those successes in 2010 and the 2017 to 2020 four in-a-row, she also landed 10 Leinster senior championships, four All-Stars, a National Football League crown and two Division 2 leagues. She was also the captain in 2016.
She made her debut aged 17 back in 2007 and has been a part of county teams for over 17 years when underage squads are factored in.
Indeed, Healy is one of a handful of Dublin players who have to their name All-Ireland winners medals at Under-14, Under-16, minor and senior grades.
She added a senior club All Ireland winners medal to her haul back in 2019 when she played for Mourneabbey having relocated to Cork for work.
One of her finest performances for Dublin came in the 2017 All Ireland victory over Mayo which earned a tenacious Noelle Healy the TG4 Player of the Match accolade.
She would finish the season with a third All Star Award as well as being voted by her peers as the Players Player of the Year.
Having played a huge role in Dublin winning their fourth All Ireland title in a row versus Cork on December 20 last year, Healy was subsequently named at corner forward on the TG4 2020 Team of the Championship when the panel was revealed in February this year.
Reflecting on her career, the Brigid’s woman said: “It’s been beyond a dream to have represented Dublin at all age groups for the last 17 years, in both successes and failures.
“Thank you to all the management teams I’ve had the honour of learning from and the teammates I’ve had the pleasure of playing with. I’m lucky that many of them I’m able to call great friends too.
“My very best wishes to the squad in coming seasons, no doubt they will continue to go from strength to strength!”
Playing tribute to her, a Dublin statement added: “Noelle Healy has been one of the most inspirational, talented footballers to have donned the sky blue jersey and an amazing ambassador for Ladies Gaelic football not only in Dublin but at national level.”
Long-time team mate Sinead Goldrick led the tributes from her fellow Jackies, saying: “Incredible athlete on the field and a great friend off it – who also gives the best hugs! You definitely left the jersey in a better place. Thanks for the memories.”
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