Former Armagh defender Justin McNulty believes that Sean Cavanagh's competitive nature helped him to enjoy an extended career with Tyrone.

Recalling the three-time All-Ireland winner's championship debut against his native county in May 2002, McNulty cited the Moy man as being "big, strong with plenty of pace" and added that his lengthy career afterwards was "an incredible achievement".

"Ultimately he was a competitor and that's what stood by him for so many years," McNulty told The Irish News.

"I've got nothing but admiration for a guy who sticks at it for such a long time and who has been at the top of his game, one of the leading footballers in the country, for so many seasons. It's an incredible achievement and also to have three gold ones (All-Ireland medals) in his back-pocket is enormous."

He added: "We had plenty of tussles with him down the years. We'll never forget the 'Cavanagh shuffle', I was never personally caught out with it, but I know those who were. He was the last man standing from both of those teams. Him and Ciaran McKeever have retired in the same season a few weeks apart and they would have had huge tussles as well.

"It's a credit to Sean that he was the sole survivor on that Tyrone team up until now."

Tweet

Most Read Stories