Dermot Carlin retires from Mickey Harte's Tyrone squad

Tyrone defender Dermot Carlin has retired from inter-county football

Dermot Carlin has become the latest player to quit Mickey Harte's Tyrone squad this year.

The Killyclogher defender, who was an unused substitute in Sunday's qualifier win over Limerick, has failed to break into the team since returning from injury in the spring.

His departure leaves Sean Cavanagh as the only remaining link to Tyrone's maiden All-Ireland SFC success in 2003.

Six players quit the Red Hands panel in April due to a lack of game time.

Paddy McNeice, Shay McGuigan, Dwyane Quinn, PJ Lavery, Ryan McKenna. and Emmett McKenna left in frustration after failing to force their way into contention.

Carlin admitted he was frustrated with a lack of game time.

"I told Mickey that if I was 24 or 25, I'd have no problem staying there and fighting for my place, which is what I have always done," he said.

"At this stage of my life I just want to play and feel part of a team so club football is probably where I need to be now."

Carlin, who won two All-Ireland titles in 2003 and 2008, was among those who departed in January and although he returned during the league, was unable to nail down a position.

Harte has added All-Ireland U21 winners Rory Brennan, Cathal McShane, Lee Brennan and Conor Meyler to his squad.

When asked in the wake of Sunday's victory about the unusually high number of changes to his squad this year, Harte said: "maybe so, but that's life".

"I think there is a very solid squad there at the minute.

"They are very together and they are very determined to do the best that they can.

"There's a lot of them are at different stages of their development and if we can keep them in this competition, they'll be the better for it as the season progresses."