Tyrone great Stephen O'Neill has announced his inter-county retirement, according to the BBC.

The 2005 Footballer of the Year, who turns 34 next Wednesday, previously retired in January 2008, only to return on the eve of that year's All-Ireland final win over Kerry. However, he refused to accept his All-Ireland medal, saying he "did not earn" it.

O'Neill is one of Ulster's most decorated footballers. Blessed with a lethal left foot and a great football brain, he was an outstanding forward and match-winner. The Clann na Gael clubman won All-Ireland minor (1998) and U21 (2001 and '01) medals before bursting onto the senior scene in 2001 when he won his first Ulster SFC medal and the first of his three All Star awards.

He went on to add All-Ireland senior medals in 2003 and '05, as well as Allianz League medals in 2002 and '03. Throughout his career, O'Neill had to contend with recurring injury problems and actually missed most of the 2006 season because of injury.

After undergoing ankle surgery earlier this year, he made just five appearances for Tyrone, coming on as a sub in the drawn and replayed Ulster SFC games against Down and against Monaghan before starting the All-Ireland qualifier win over Louth. However, he had to be content with an another substitution appearance in the qualifier defeat to Armagh, which proved to be his last game for the Red Hands.

O'Neill also represented his province and country in a stellar career.

Fellow Tyrone attacker Martin Penrose is also reported to have retired from inter-county duty.

Stevie O'Neill - the Legend Grows! from Jerome Quinn on Vimeo.

 

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