Down defender Damien Rafferty has been forced to retire from inter-county football due to a long-standing groin problem.

The Newry Shamrocks clubman, who was a key member of the Down team that reached the 2010 All-Ireland final, was included in the Mourne County's championship squad, despite not featuring in the Allianz League after undergoing surgery in February.

He tweeted: "Have 2 join the trend of retirements on twitter. Surgeon told me 2 hang them up and look forward to 2 a life of aches and pains."

The news is a further blow to Down manager James McCartan who is sweating over the fitness of Benny Coulter (broken ankle), Niall McParland (broken bone in his hand) and Dan Gordon (broken bone in his foot) ahead of Sunday week's Ulster SFC semi-final against Monaghan. Tweet

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