Leinster final. He was later presented with a fifth consecutive All-Star award. Carey was appointed captain of the Kilkenny senior team for the 1997 season. He lined out in a fifth Leinster final on 13 July 1997, however, he ended the game on the losing side after a 2–14 to 1–11 defeat by Wexford. Carey ended the season as the championship's top scorer with 4-22, while he also claimed a sixth All-Star award. On 4 February 1998, rumours of Carey's imminent retirement shocked the hurling world when they began circulating in the national media. He later confirmed his retirement from club and inter-county hurling in an interview on RTÉ Radio citing a loss of "appetite" for the game as his primary reason. Over the following few weeks, Carey received 25,000 letters from all over the country encouraging him not to retire. On 20 March 1998, he reversed his decision and announced that he would be returning to hurling at the end of the month. On 5 July 1998, Carey lined out in his sixth Leinster final. He scored 2-01 from play and collected a fourth winners' medal after a 3–10 to 1–11 defeat of Offaly. On 13 September 1998, Carey lined out at right wing-forward when Kilkenny once again faced Offaly in the All-Ireland final. He top scored for Kilkenny with five points, however, he ended on the losing side following a 2–16 to 1–13 defeat. On 11 July 1999, Carey won his fifth Leinster Championship medal after a 5–14 to 1–16 defeat of Offaly in the final. He ended the game as the top scorer with 2–04 with all bar two points coming from play. On 12 September 1999, Carey was selected at right wing-forward when Kilkenny qualified for a first All-Ireland final-meeting with Cork in seven years. He was held scoreless throughout the game which Kilkenny lost by 0–13 to 0–12. Carey was later presented with a seventh All-Star award. After making just one appearance during the 2000 National League, Carey lined out in a seventh Leinster final on 9 July 2000. He scored 1-03 from full-forward and claimed a fifth winners' medal after a 2–21 to 1–13 defeat of Offaly. Carey made his sixth All-Ireland final appearance on 10 September 2000, with Offaly once again providing the opposition. Kilkenny's full-forward line of Carey, Charlie Carter and Henry Shefflin scored 4-10 between them, with Carey top scoring with