Fermanagh great Barry Owens retired from county football so he could spend more time with his family.

The two-times All Star announced his intercounty retirement last June, having made his debut for the Ernemen in 2001. He says a combination of ongoing injuries and a desire to spend more time with his family led him to the decision:

"There were a lot of lonely nights on the side of the pitch watching the other lads training and me just doing my own bits of running, trying to keep my own bit of fitness going, but I enjoyed my time in it," he told The Irish Times.

"My family was probably the main reason I left. My wife and I, we have been together through the whole lot, probably from the start of the MacRory Cup and I think we needed a bit of a break from the football for a while.

"Then I suppose with the injuries too, it was fantastic whenever I got a good run, but I only got back last March and I didn't really have time to give to it.

"When you're young, football is your life, you were just training, football, training, football and that's what it was and you know I suppose it was hard - but I actually find it hard to fill my time now after it all.

"But no, I think [Fermanagh manager] Pete McGrath knows it's time for the young players now."

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