It's the end of an era in Crossmaglen.
Goalkeeper Paul Hearty has announced his retirement from gaelic football after a career that ran through three separate decades. The 39-year-old was part of all six of Crossmaglen's All-Ireland winning sides from 1997 to 2012.
Hearty stepped away from the inter-county game in 2012, but continued to play for Crossmaglen until their elimination from the Armagh Championship at the semi-final stage last weekend.
At club level alone, Hearty won 19 Armagh Championships, 11 Ulster Club Championships and 6 All-Ireland Club medals. He also impressed with Armagh at county level.
He was on the bench for their 2002 All-Ireland win and won a further five Ulster Championships. It was some career.
The goalkeeper confirmed his decision to step away from the game on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.
I have released the following statement.@crossrangers @Armagh_GAA pic.twitter.com/87koQd8ln9
— Paul Hearty (@paul_hearty1) October 3, 2017
Hearty began his career with his home side as a 16-year-old, and paid special thanks to Joe Kernan "who had the courage" to do so, in the quest for a County title.
The retirement comes as Crossmaglen failed failed to win the Armagh Championship for the second year in a row. It's the first time the side have had that 'drought' since their gap of 1986 to 1996 without a County title.
Hearty will retire as a legend of the club game. Those goals in Crossmaglen wont be the same ever again.
