Exclusive Chrissy McKaigue brings Derry career to an end

Derry footballer Chrissy McKaigue has called time on his stellar inter-county career.

McKaigue made his championship debut for Derry in 2008, joining the panel for their game with Monaghan, coming on as a substitute and scoring a point.

Aside from a two-year spell with Sydney Swans in the AFL, McKaigue has been an ultra-reliable presence in the Derry colours since then, excelling over 15 seasons.

The former Derry captain bows out of the top-flight with two Ulster titles, one Division 1 league medal and an All-Star.

"The time is right," McKaigue told RTÉ Sport.

"I have been thinking about if for some time. I spoke to Paddy, echoed my feelings to him early so we both could move forward in our respective future endeavours and I just wanted to have everything straight from the start of the new regime, with no uncertainty and no speculation over the winter.

"It's mid-November and coming out with this decision now with this certainty allows the team and management to move forward.

"Getting my body right, embracing all the aspects of modern training and getting my mind right, it has been hard work over 15 years with Derry. My gut says now is the right time to step aside."

McKaigue (35) will continue to play with his beloved club Slaughtneill, where his record is even more impressive with 16 County titles - 11 in hurling and five in football.

At provincial level he has thus far won seven Ulster club titles, four in hurling and three in football and helped Slaughtneill to two All-Ireland finals.

In 2020, the brilliant dual star became the first player to win AIB Club All-Stars in both hurling and football.

"There is huge solace in having Slaughtneill in my life and that is my main focus," he says.

McKaigue, who also played twice for Ireland