Enda McGinley has dropped off the Tyrone panel, with the O'Neill County claiming it is only a temporary move.

According to the reports earlier in the day, the three-time All-Ireland winner quit due to ongoing injury problems and club commitments. Tyrone have since commented that McGinley is taking a break to recover from injuries that he has been unable to shake off and that he is expected to return to the squad for the Ulster championship.

"It's only a temporary thing. He has had a few niggling injuries, and he was contemplating maybe missing out on the first part of the league. But they haven't cleared up, and it has affected his form and his ability to perform. So it's just a few weeks stepping back from it," Tyrone assistant manager Tony Donnelly explained to RTE.

The news represents a huge blow to Tyrone's hopes of avoiding relegation to Division 2 of the NFL.

One of the most versatile players in the game, McGinley was a key member of Tyrone's All-Ireland winning teams of 2003, 2005 and 2008, winning an All-Star at midfield in the latter year. He also won an All-Ireland minor medal in 1998 and two All-Ireland under 21 titles in 2000 and 2001 - all under Mickey Harte's leadership.

However, his career has also been blighted by injury and that has hindered his participation with the county once again. Tweet

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