Neck injury forces McGinley's retirement

Three-time All-Ireland SFC winner Enda McGinley has had to call time on his Gaelic football career due to a neck injury.

The Tyrone ace damaged his neck in a club league game for Errigal Ciarán last month and his latest injury, thought to be related to the one he sustained against Armagh in the 2003 All-Ireland final, has forced him into retirement.

A number of injuries have curtailed McGinley's involvement with Tyrone over the years. Famously he suffered a broken neck in the twelfth minute of the 2003 All-Ireland decider during a clash with Armagh's Tony McEntee, but unaware of the injury he played on before spending weeks afterwards in a neck brace.

McGinley has been absent from the inter-county scene since retiring in November 2011. He was a member of Tyrone's All-Ireland winning sides in 2003, 2005 and 2008 and was an All-Star midfielder in 2008. He also helped Ireland win the International Rules series that year.

The 32-year-old captained Errigal Ciarán to the county title last year. But that will be his last big success as a player as a heavy fall against Moy in a recent league outing and subsequent medical advice means that McGinley is hanging up his boots for good.

Some of the players who lined out against McGinley at inter-county level have been acknowledging McGinley's retirement on social media today.

Armagh's Aaron Kernan, who was part of that 2008 Ireland International Rules squad, tweeted: "Sorry to hear of Enda McGinley's injury-enforced retirement. He collected enough medals along the way but health is your wealth. #Gentleman"

Ex-Westmeath and Offaly player PJ Ward said: "Sad to see Tyrone's Enda McGinley had to retire from full action. One of my favorite players over the last decade, wish him the best of luck."