Mark Timlin retires from football and is 'excited to see what the future holds'

Mark Timlin has announced his retirement from football.

The 28-year-old accountant from Buncrana signed for Finn Harps in 2017, having had two spells with Derry City and a year at St Patrick’s Athletic having started out with his hometown club Buncrana Hearts.

Timlin had back luck in recent times with injuries, including an ACL picked up ahead of the 2020 campaign and his last senior goal came last April in a 2-2 draw for Harps away to Bohemians.

His standout moment in a Harps shirt was a goal at the Markets Field in 2018 that helped the Ballybofey club to victory in the promotion-relegation play-off with a 3-0 aggregate win over Limerick.

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“As the old saying goes - All good things must come to an end!,” Timlin posted on LinkedIn. “After a gruelling few years of injury I've made the tough decision to hang up my football boots. This decision was not arrived at easily nor was it one I ever thought I'd have to make before I entered my thirties.

“If someone had told 14/15-year-old me that I'd be retiring at 28 and on the brink of becoming a fully qualified accountant only god knows what I'd have said back in response, it might have been colourful!”

Timlin admitted he will have no regrets in regards his career being cut short and is looking forward to pursuing his accountancy.

“I'll look back fondly on my football career, having met some terrific people and experienced some brilliant moments,” he added. “All that being said, I can now fully focus on my career in accounting and finance and I am hoping that the many skills and discipline that I've developed as an athlete can help me fully transition from a professional footballer to an accountant. I'm excited to see what the future holds!”