Brian O'Driscoll's rugby career ended on a bittersweet note on Sunday when he left the field injured after just nine minutes of the Celtic League final which his Leinster side went on to win 34-12 against Glasgow.
O'Driscoll, the world's most capped rugby international, limped off to a standing ovation from his home fans to end a glittering 15-year career.
Leinster's second successive title was O'Driscoll's fourth triumph in the annual league played between teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy, to add to three Heineken Cups and two Six Nations championships, one of them a Grand Slam.
O'Driscoll, Ireland's record try scorer who also captained his country a record 83 times - more than twice as often as anyone else - ended his international career on a perfect note when he won Ireland's second Six Nations title in 29 years.
The 35-year old centre made a world record 141 appearances for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions and although he finally tasted a Lions series triumph on his fourth tour in Australia last year, he was dropped for the final, series-winning test.
O'Driscoll re-emerged to accept the trophy alongside lock Leo Cullen who was also playing in his final match, retiring as the only man to captain a team to three European titles.
