IRISH FOOTBALL lost one of its greatest imports of modern times yesterday when a combination of family illness and growing fitness problems forced Bohemians skipper Kevin Hunt to retire from the game with immediate effect.

The 33-year-old departs after just short of a decade with the Dubliners during which time he made more than 350 first-team appearances and captained the side to the double in 2001 and another championship title two seasons later when he was also named the league's player of the year.

While quite a few much better known British players came and went without making any lasting impression on the game here, Hunt's consistently impressive performances in the centre of the Bohemians midfield won him the admiration of supporters up and down the country.

During his time at Dalymount Park he proved himself a gifted footballer, an outstanding captain and a dedicated club man, turning down a number of attractive offers from rival clubs, most notably Shelbourne a few years ago when several prominent team-mates decided to jump ship.

Amongst Bohemians fans he has long enjoyed hero status and he demonstrated how well he had come to understand their priorities at a press conference held yesterday to confirm his departure when, in reply to a question about the highlights of his time with the club, he noted the 2000/01 season, "when we won the double, did well in Europe against Aberdeen and Kaiserslautern and then beat Rovers 6-4 just to top it all off".

In the end, Hunt's retirement has been hastened by his and wife Faye's desire to live closer to their families in Kent, England, prompted by the serious health problems encountered by their two young daughters, Holly and Sienna.

"As everyone knows I've had a few problems with the health of my girls," he said yesterday. "It's been going on for nearly three years now and as it's not going to get any better so I've decided to call it a day.

"My contract was up in November and I expected to go then but I've had a couple of semi-serious injuries this season and since I've come back from the second, I've played four or five games and felt like a little bit of a liability.

"With everything that's been going on off the field, that side of my life is a bit shambolic and I wasn't getting the sort of rest or recovery time I needed between games. Ultimately, I didn't think that was fair to Pat (Fenlon), particularly when the club is chasing the title again."

Paying tribute to one of the league's most likeable characters, Bohemians president Gerry Cuffe said it was a sad day for everybody at the club but that Hunt's "professionalism, decency and great ability have ensured he will retain legendary status at Dalymount".

Long an adversary during his time at Shelbourne, current Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon said Hunt was "probably the best midfielder in the league over the last decade. It's terrible to be losing a player and character of his calibre and the other players were devastated when they heard the news this morning, I don't think that they could believe he was going.

"But," he added, "there's more to life than football and having given his life to the game for the last 10 years he's going to devote his energies to his family and that's entirely understandable."

Hunt says he hasn't ruled out looking to play professionally again when things calm down on the family front but says his priority is to transfer the business studies course he has been pursuing at DCU for the last two years to an English college and complete his coaching badges. Bohemians will stage a testimonial game for him in November.

The club starts life without him this evening at the Brandywell, where John Paul Kelly and former Derry City star Killian Brennan are added to the squad after missing the win over Bray through suspension. Mark McChrystal and Owen Morrison return for City but Kevin Deery faces a late fitness test and Clive Delaney is suspended.

Jeff Kenna looks set to make his competitive debut for Galway United at the Carlisle Grounds after the club's now player-manager came through 45 minutes of the friendly against Leeds United on Wednesday without any problems. Bray are without Alan Cawley (suspended) as well as injured duo Dane Massey and Colm Tresson.

The top two in the First Division meet at Tolka Park, where Shelbourne may hand a debut to Andrei Georgescu who arrived on loan from Bray during the week. Damien Brennan is suspended for the Dubliners, while Dundalk have Ben Whelehan back from the flu and Robbie Farrell from a long-term knee injury. Aidan Lynch is a doubt due to a calf problem.

Waterford United officials have reached agreement with their players over a wage cut and the payment of back money which, they say, guarantees the club's immediate future.

Cork City have revealed the ankle injury sustained by John O'Flynn against Finn Harps last week is less serious than initially feared. The striker has ligament damage but not, as originally suggested, a fracture, and has already begun work on his rehabilitation. He could still, however, be out for up to two months.