As the shock waves subside slightly in Kilkenny, and particularly in DJ Carey's home town of Gowran, where news of his retirement apparently evokes memories of the reaction to Elvis Presley's death, questions persist as to why at the age of 27 the most famous hurler of his generation has chosen to bring his career to an abrupt halt - even at club level.

His stated reason - that he had lost his appetite for the game - hasn't convinced everyone within the county but Carey himself is insistent. "There is no other reason for my decision. The feeling (loss of enthusiasm) goes back to after last year's championship and then again after the county final. Now it's certain.

"What really decided me (on making the announcement now) was that I knew I wouldn't be part of the team come June and July but I didn't want to make an announcement at that stage and cause a hullabaloo before the championship.

"Yes, 27 is young but it includes 11 years' service and eight or nine at the top level. Everyone has their day and I believe that mine is now gone. There'll be younger, more enthusiastic players to take it on."

There is scepticism within the county about his stated motivation ("I am a bit doubtful about it," says county chairman John Healy. I think there's more to it but it's not a problem with the Kilkenny county board.").

Some of the speculation centres on club difficulties. Coached by new county manager Kevin Fennelly, Gowran won the county title for the first time in 1996 and were in the opinion of many the best team in the county again last year.

Carey's brother Martin, goalkeeper the year before, sat out the later stages of the championship on the bench. Gowran lost the county final to unfancied Dunamaggin. Martin Carey had asked to play outfield because of eyesight difficulties for the early part of the championship and after losing his place, asked to return to goal but was not accommodated.

Fennelly dismisses this as a source of friction between himself and DJ.

The player himself backs Fennelly's assurances on the matter but within the locality, the trauma of losing the county final did trigger recriminations.

"The club scene was a disappointment," says Carey, "but unfortunately with me being high-profile, I take stick and become the target of rumours. I didn't get involved with any selection controversy. I'm a player, Kevin was the coach. If I was upset at my brother being dropped, how come Jack (another brother) and myself got 3-9 out of 3-11 in the semi-final?

"People talk. I was sick - physically - after the county final and didn't go to the meal afterwards and because of work, wasn't around the week after. Suddenly there's stories that we boxed each other and rolled all around Gowran."

Carey's reluctance to see news of his retirement in yesterday's papers - he asked inquiring journalists on Tuesday to defer publication of the breaking story - could be seen as casting his decision in an ambiguous light.

Kilkenny manager Kevin Fennelly believes that the flash flood of publicity took Carey a little by surprise.

"It's quite possible. He seemed hesitant about it getting out early, seemed a little concerned. I said to him, `Don't let it run if you're not certain'. I was hoping he would deny it (yesterday) - and make my job a bit easier."

The player is, however, adamant that there was no last minute soul-searching. "In fairness to the county board, they had been informed and some of the officers wanted to meet me and I wanted to afford them that opportunity before making an announcement. I was disappointed that that time wasn't granted.

"I've always been good to the media and never shied away from giving interviews; they could have been good to me on this occasion."

With events gaining momentum, the meeting was held on Tuesday evening instead. County chairman John Healy was present and hoped for the best. "I wasn't convinced last night (Tuesday) that he'd go public on it but it was out. The phones were ringing non-stop."

Despite Carey's blunt insistence that his retirement is not negotiable, not everyone in the county shares his conviction.

"I don't know," says Fennelly when asked does he think the player will return to the county scene. "I can't answer that. I've been asked it a hundred times. It's very hard to think that he hasn't the desire anymore.

"But he's always maintained that he wouldn't stay in hurling too long. I remember saying to him about the All Stars that he'd probably end up with more than anyone in three or four years time and he said he wouldn't be hurling in three or four years."

Former manager and county chairman Nicky Brennan who has coached Carey at various levels since 1990 is flabbergasted by the decision.

"I believe he'll be back when the good weather comes in and the long evenings and the drama of the championship. I can't believe he'll say no. How's he going to tell his son that he gave up the game at 27 even though he was the top player in the country?

"I can't understand how he's going to meet all his club colleagues going to Mass on a Sunday morning with a match against James Stephens on at 2.00 and then walk away and maybe not even watch the match. When the man above gives you all that talent, you have to use it to the full.

"I sympathise with Kevin Fennelly and his selectors. What are they going to do? They can't keep beating a path to his door. But some intermediary may be able to sort things out."