Aidan Carr has signed off with Down

DOWN stalwart Aidan Carr has announced his retirement from intercounty football.

The 32-year-old Clonduff man represented the Mourne County for more than a decade, making his debut in 2006 in the wake of winning an Ulster U21 title.

A hamstring injury curtailed his progress in his last season in Down colours and his decision comes three weeks after Mark Poland also retired from intercounty duty.

In other Down news, Eamonn Burns is sweating on the fitness of Kilcoo star Ryan Johnston ahead of their upcoming Division Two campaign.

He’s currently recovering from a metatarsal injury sustained in Kilcoo’s county final win over Burren. His brother Jerome won’t be back until March at the earliest as he is taking time out to travel, while they are also planning without the services of goalkeeper Michael Cunningham.

Burns has drafted in three members of the Rostrvvor side that were edged out by Moy in the Ulster Intermediate final – Darren McElhinney, Johnny Parr, Piaras Kane – and he’s also brought in Glasdrumman goalkeeper Shane Harrison.

Former Down player Keith Quinn is due back in Ireland this year to hook up  with Mayobridge and may come into the picture as well.