RONAN MCNAMEE had a tooth knocked out on his Tyrone debut by Paul Galvin - but life off the field turned out to be even more difficult.
The Red Hand full-back has opened up about his struggle with depression which left him feeling he had "no way out".
The 2021 All-Ireland winner was at his lowest ebb five years earlier when he bought a set of knives and cut his wrists.
It wasn't until 2019 that he went public about his situation in a shock interview.
Four years on, it's only recently that the 31-year-old has become comfortable with speaking about his welfare.
Launching the Darkness Into Light event, a fundraiser for suicide prevention and bereavement support services, McNamee admits it's "still raw" discussing the struggles.
He said: "I did a thing with the Antrim hurler Domhnall Nugent about a month ago, he has got a 'Let's Face It' campaign, talking about his mental health and he is going around schools up north, going around clubs and making a massive push on it.
Denne historien er fra April 28, 2023-utgaven av Irish Daily Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 28, 2023-utgaven av Irish Daily Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THREE-FLOWING FOOTBALL!
Klopp has come up with a new dynamic triple threat on counter
MOORE'S MERRIER
Late, late leveller lifts new boss Darren
WE'VE GAT A GREAT CHANCE
Tompkins and Davies praise Gatland's clear vision and reckon 'the sky's the limit' for Wales
BYRNE: DON'T SEND ME TO BRITISH JAIL
Kinahan mobster fights extradition to UK over 'human rights'
Bruce wife: Our family's dementia heartache
'STAR MAY NOT BE AWARE HE HAS IT'
Killer Letby retrial over 'attempted murder of baby girl'
But heartache for other families
Garda chief confirms officer injured by Dail mob
A GARDA chief said an officer was injured in last week's Dail protests by a far-right mob.
Sophia so good
Hollywood great Loren doing well'after broken hip surgery
Eternal no more
Louise is accused of 'throwing bandmates under a bus' after quitting reunion in bitter row
Our lives will never be the same again..
Family mourns 'hero and son' struck by car