DOWN’S Aidan Carr has called time on his inter-county playing days, bringing the curtain down on an 11-year career in the red and black, writes Neil Loughran.
The 32-year-old’s decision comes just weeks after close friend Mark Poland, another Mourne County stalwart of the past decade, opted not to put himself forward for Eamonn Burns’s panel in 2018.
As a result, the only survivors from Down’s run to the 2010 All-Ireland final are Kevin McKernan, Benny McArdle, Conor Maginn and Darren O’Hagan.
Carr was first drafted into the Mourne set-up by Paddy O’Rourke in 2006 after helping the county to an Ulster U21 title, and also played under dad Ross, James McCartan, Jim McCorry and Burns.
The classy Clonduff centre-back, who joked that he had no plans to release a farewell statement on Twitter or Instagram, confirmed last night that 2017 would be his last campaign.
Playing at midfield, Carr had been a regular fixture throughout the National League back in the early part of the year.
However, an unfortunate hamstring injury just before the start of the Championship saw him limited to a series of cameo appearances as the Mournemen reached a first Ulster final in five years.
