Tyrone footballer Conor Meyler has said it's "time to listen to the body" after announcing his retirement from inter-county football at the age of 31.
The Omagh St Enda’s man, who ended Tyrone’s memorable All-Ireland winning campaign of 2021 with an All-Star, has been dogged by injuries in recent seasons.
Last June, he returned after two years side-lined with consecutive knee injuries in the Red Hands All-Ireland series win over Cavan.
"It was a special moment," he said at the time. "It's been a long two years. It’s been a very rocky road as well; it hasn’t been straightforward."
He also appeared off the bench in the quarter-final win over Dublin, a game that proved to be his final appearance as he didn’t feature in the semi-final defeat to eventual champions Kerry.
First called up by Mickey Harte into the senior Tyrone set-up, he made his debut against Tipperary in a 2015 qualifier and held a starting position in that year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry.
A versatile operator, Meyler was comfortable in both defence and attack, where his ability to track key players became a hallmark of his play.
Four weeks after fracturing his leg in a Super 8s win over Donegal in 2018, he started the All-Ireland final against Dublin, where he was tasked with shackling Brian Fenton.
Tyrone were soundly beaten that day, but he was a key cog in the Red Hands coming from nowhere to win in 2021, claiming an All-Star at right-half back as well as a Player of the Year nomination.
Since then, Tyrone have struggled to match those heights, while Meyler had a range of injury setbacks before returning this summer.
He bows out with three Ulster titles (2016, 2017 and 2021) to go with his Sam Maguire success.
"Time to hang up the boots," he wrote in a statement on his Instagram account.
"As much as the mind still wants to go on, it’s finally time to listen to the body and move on from football.
"I’ve been incredibly fortunate to live a dream of representing my club and county for over a decade, alongside some of my childhood hero’s and closest friends, whom we’ve shared some incredible moments which I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
"Football has been the most beautiful pursuit and one of my greatest teachers. I have given football every part of me and it has challenged me, taught me tough life lessons, but ultimately it shaped me and gave me every opportunity both on and off the field to become the person I am today.
"This chapter closes with nothing but appreciation, love and gratitude. A young boy’s dream lived out. A heart full. Excited for whatever the next phase of life brings me."
