Gourley makes Tyrone exit

CIARAN GOURLEY is the latest member of Tyrone’s treble All-Ireland team to call time on his inter-county career.

Gourley played at corner-back on the first Red Hand side to win the Sam Maguire Cup in 2003. He missed the 2005 triumph due to a cruciate ligament injury, but returned to play a key role in the third success in ‘08.

The Rock clubman suffered a second cruciate injury while playing for his club last season and missed Tyrone’s entire league and championship campaign this year. He has returned to club action, but has decided that an inter-county career that began almost a decade ago is at an end.

“When you look at the modern game, total fitness is required. It’s a young man’s game and you have to be fully fit,” he said.

“I had to take what was a hard decision for me, and I’ll miss it.”

Reflecting on a golden era for Tyrone football, he added: “I had a lot of very good days, and I was lucky to be part of great teams.”

Earlier this week, Brian McGuigan and Philip Jordan announced their retirements, while double All-Ireland winning captain Brian Dooher brought the curtain down on his glittering career in September.