Tyrone GAA star McCarron thanks Athy GAA club for helping him to get over his gambling addiction

Controversial Tyrone GAA star Cathal McCarron has thanked the members of Athy GAA club for helping him to rekindle his love for the game after so many off the pitch problems and a gambling addiction threatened to derail the 28-year-old's career.

McCarron, who has just released his autobiography titled Out of Control, suffered from a gambling addiction that ultimately led to him featuring in a gay pornographic movie to earn a bit of money while in London, something the Irish tabloids soon picked up on.

McCarron was brought home to Ireland to face into his problems, and after three months of rehabilitation in the Cuan Mhuire house in Newry, he decided it was best to move down to Athy and steer clear of his home town of Dromore. McCarron worked as a volunteer with the drug unit in the the rehabilitation centre in Athy while he continued his rehab work.

His counsellor, Nicola Kelly, was a major factor in his recovery, and her husband Joe is a massive Athy GAA man. He convinced the 2016 All-Star nominee to come down to training in Athy, something that helped McCarron get his career back on track.

"I have to say to the lads in Athy, and the managers down there, Pascal Kelleghan -he was the manager at the time- and the club and the community welcomed me with open arms," McCarron told Colm Parkinson on the GAA Hour podcast.

"Them boys did so much for me in terms of rehabilitation. Almost so much that they could see the good person that I am and were even defensive of me if anybody would say anything about me. They would kind of have my back.

"Them boys rekindled the love of the game I had again, and I kept my head down and worked away."

McCarron talks about his relationship with the Kellys in his book, revealing that they were among the biggest influences on his life as he sought to get his life back on track.

McCarron has enjoyed two impressive seasons playing for Tyrone since he left Athy, and he was on the shortlist for the 2016 Football All-Star Awards after helping the Red Hands to an Ulster title.