In an interview with the Irish News, the Ballinascreen player said that he was finding it difficult to keep up with the pace of the game and that it was taking him longer than usual to recuperate between games. The player was a member of the Derry team that won back-to-back Ulster titles in 2022 and 2023.

"An ace finisher with an eye for goal, Benny Heron matched talent with an utterly selfless attitude and was one of the most respected footballers in Derry over the past decade," the statement from Derry GAA commended Heron for his ten years of service.

"All supporters of Derry will look back on the summer of 2022 with pride after the county won its first Ulster title in 24 years. Ballinascreen's Heron sparkled that summer, winning over the red-and-white masses on the streets and terraces of Ulster and in the vicinity of Croke Park.

"We would like to express our profound gratitude to Benny on behalf of all Derry supporters for all of his hard work and the memories he has given us. We send our best wishes for the future to Benny, his wife Laura, and their small family.

Heron was a mainstay in the Derry team during their astonishing ascent from Division 4 players in 2019 to All-Ireland contenders three years later. In 2022, the county won their first Ulster title in 24 years thanks to Heron's outstanding season.

He rose to fame among the Derry supporters during this campaign, as evidenced by the widespread use of Benny Heron masks on Hill 16 during their semi-final defeat to Galway.

In what turned out to be his final championship game, he lost his starting spot for the 2023 tournament but continued to play off the substitute bench in Derry's victories over Armagh, Cork, and their heartbreaking semi-final loss to Kerry.