Tyrone football was left reeling on Thursday night when star forward Stephen O'Neill confirmed his retirement from the game at the age of 27.
O'Neill, who helped The Red Hand to All-Ireland glory in 2003 and 2005, has seen his footballing life blighted by a succession of knee and hamstring injuries and for the last year, tendonitis in the knee has hampered him.
The Strabane man with the deadly left foot underwent knee surgery at the end of last season, but complications on the back of the operation left his 2008 campaign and indeed his playing future in doubt and he has now called time on his involvement with the Ulster champions.
O'Neill will continue to turn out for club Clann na nGael when fit, but it has emerged that it had been likely that he would be dropping out of the Tyrone scene since October.
"I had known since October that this was in his head," Tyrone boss Mickey Harte was quoted as saying by The Irish Daily Mirror.
"I told him with a knee operation coming up that it possibly wasn't the best time to be making such a decision. I wanted to give him time and thought that with the new season looming he might feel differently.
"I was just hoping that as the injury improved, so would his views on playing on this year. But unfortunately Stephen's mindset is still the same as it was in October.
"He had it well thought out. He said he had given ten years to Tyrone and while he had enjoyed every minute of it, he thinks it's time. In a way I'm disappointed because I know he has so much more to give.
"But he wants to concentrate on club football now and we have to accept that."
O'Neill won won All-Star awards in 2001 and 2005 and scored over 60 points in the Ulster side's second All-Ireland-winning campaign of 2005, a year in which he was named Footballer of the Year. He also played for the Ireland International Rules team that year.
His final Tyrone appearance came in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Meath at Croke Park last August.
Absolutely gutted about this!
Stevie was one of the finest Gaelic Footballers i've ever seen and he only turned 27yrs old.
Best penalty taker I've ever seen also!!
I hope he reconsiders after gettin full fitness back in a year or so.
O'Neill, who helped The Red Hand to All-Ireland glory in 2003 and 2005, has seen his footballing life blighted by a succession of knee and hamstring injuries and for the last year, tendonitis in the knee has hampered him.
The Strabane man with the deadly left foot underwent knee surgery at the end of last season, but complications on the back of the operation left his 2008 campaign and indeed his playing future in doubt and he has now called time on his involvement with the Ulster champions.
O'Neill will continue to turn out for club Clann na nGael when fit, but it has emerged that it had been likely that he would be dropping out of the Tyrone scene since October.
"I had known since October that this was in his head," Tyrone boss Mickey Harte was quoted as saying by The Irish Daily Mirror.
"I told him with a knee operation coming up that it possibly wasn't the best time to be making such a decision. I wanted to give him time and thought that with the new season looming he might feel differently.
"I was just hoping that as the injury improved, so would his views on playing on this year. But unfortunately Stephen's mindset is still the same as it was in October.
"He had it well thought out. He said he had given ten years to Tyrone and while he had enjoyed every minute of it, he thinks it's time. In a way I'm disappointed because I know he has so much more to give.
"But he wants to concentrate on club football now and we have to accept that."
O'Neill won won All-Star awards in 2001 and 2005 and scored over 60 points in the Ulster side's second All-Ireland-winning campaign of 2005, a year in which he was named Footballer of the Year. He also played for the Ireland International Rules team that year.
His final Tyrone appearance came in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Meath at Croke Park last August.
Absolutely gutted about this!
Stevie was one of the finest Gaelic Footballers i've ever seen and he only turned 27yrs old.
Best penalty taker I've ever seen also!!
I hope he reconsiders after gettin full fitness back in a year or so.
