The 31-year-old Raheny man told manager Pat Gilroy of his decision yesterday.

Former Dublin manager Paul Caffrey led the tributes to the former captain, saying in The Examiner: "They say nice guys don't always come out on top but Davy Henry proved that wrong. In my nine years with Dublin, he was one of the nicest fellas I've ever dealt with.

"I remember under Tommy Lyons he had played a league game for Raheny in the six weeks we had before the championship when we had no lads playing club football. He went up for a ball and broke his arm badly. I visited him in Beaumont hospital and he was crying because he hadn't sought permission to play.

"Players being players, all he wanted to do was play with his friends and help out his club. I couldn't speak highly enough of him."

In a distinguished Inter County stint in the Blue and Navy,where he played in several positions on the field, David picked up seven Leinster Championship medals and crowned a magnificent career by finally picking up that elusive Celtic Cross on that unforgettable day,last September.

The club is delighted that David will be back on a full time basis playing both football and hurling for the 2012 season.