"The time has come for me to go," Comerford confirmed in an interview with the Kilkenny People.

"I would like to thank everyone, my colleagues, team management and fans for being so good to me during my days with Kilkenny.

"I will remember them as some of the best days of my life."

Shefflin said he built up a strong relationship on and off the field with the O'Loughlin Gaels clubman.

"Martin gave brilliant service to Kilkenny and he was a great character off the field as well," he said at today's Centra Hurling launch at Croke Park.

"He was a good character in the dressing room and he will be sadly missed in there. There was always a bit of banter and a few tips for the horses as well!

"On the field he was a brilliant, brilliant hurler and he dug us out of a lot of holes and won some great games for us.

"He has won us a lot of matches and we have medals in our pockets due to Martin. He will be sadly missed and there will be a big void."