Mayo midfield ace Mc Garrity forced to retire

Mayo midfielder Ronan Mc Garrity has retired.

The Ballina Stephenites clubman joined the Mayo panel in 2004 after returning to Ireland from a basketball scholarship in America. He started the two All-Ireland final losses to Kerry in ’04 and ’06 and also led Ballina basketball club Team Merry Monk the two National Cup final weekends.

In 2005 he finally claimed a national prize when he helped his club to an All-Ireland victory over Portlaoise in 2005. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in early 2007 but fought his way back into the team for the championship to make an appearance off the bench in a qualifier win against Cavan while still undergoing treatment.

He returned in 2008 to captain Mayo and led the county to the Connacht final where they lost to a Padraic Joyce inspired Galway. An Achilles injury curtailed his career and he missed most of 2011 but was called back into the squad this year after the league. However, further injuries ruled him out of contention.