Former Derry City captain Molloy announces retirement

Former Derry City and Drogheda United player Barry Molloy has announced his retirement from senior football.

There had been speculation that former captain Molloy was going to re-sign for Derry under the new management of Kenny Shiels but the midfielder didn’t feel as if he could give it his all.

“Over the past few weeks I've been back and forth in my mind over what to do regarding football,” Molloy said in a statement on his Facebook page.

“From deciding to cancel my contract with Crusaders to the thought of giving it one more go with another club. Had a few offers to go back into it again.

“I am very grateful to the club's who showed an interest. But as I've always said, if your [sic] going to do something you should give it 100% and I genuinely don't think I was 100% committed to giving it another go.

“That said I think the time is right for me to call it a day on what has been a decent career.”

The Derry native thanked everybody who had helped him over the years, singling out the underage structures that helped him progress to get a move across the water with Derby County.

“I've been very lucky in the people I've worked with from my early days with Brandywell Harps and especially Trojans and in particular Raymond Carton who always believed in me.

“My mum was my biggest inspiration with football, always supportive and making sure I kept my standards high. I had a great 5 years at Derby County from the youth team towards the first team squad.”

Regarding his spell in the League of Ireland, he singled out Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny for special praise as the man who brought him home to Derry.

“Drogheda United was amazing to me when i first came back to Ireland. But in reality there was only one club I wanted to play for back here. It meant a lot that Stephen Kenny got me to sign for my home town club.

“And what a rollercoaster ride it was. From Cup finals, European adventures to relegation and again being a part of getting the club back into the premier division at the first time of asking.

“I've been very lucky to have been given these opportunities and i'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would have loved to have played for their home town club.

“Very proud moment walking the team out in the Aviva but most of all sharing the 2012 FAI Cup win with my two beautiful kids was the stand out moment for me.”