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McCourt: Capped 17 times by Northern Ireland. PA Archive/Press Association Images

Paddy McCourt to return to Ireland after requesting early Luton release

According to Luton boss Nathan Jones, McCourt “has had to face up to some personal problems”.

PADDY McCOURT IS leaving Luton Town a year ahead of schedule.

The League Two club announced today that the Derry-born winger plans to return to Ireland after requesting an early release from the two-year contract he signed last summer.

“Paddy has had to face up to some personal problems in recent weeks and at the end of the season he came to me about his future and it was soon clear to me that he wanted to return to Northern Ireland to be closer to his family and to play there again.

“It wasn’t a straightforward decision for me. Paddy has done well for us, but in the end we reached an agreement and he goes with my blessing,” said Luton Town manager Nathan Jones.

McCourt, who has been capped 17 times by Northern Ireland but hasn’t been included in their provisional Euro 2016 squad, played 26 times for Luton this past season.

The 32-year-old joined the Hatters last July after a season as a Brighton & Hove Albion player, the latter stages of which he spent on loan at Notts County. McCourt previously had a season at Barnsley after a five-year stint at Celtic came to an end.

McCourt began his professional career at Rochdale before joining Shamrock Rovers in 2005. After lighting up the League of Ireland for the Hoops, financial difficulties forced the Dublin club to sell McCourt to Derry City, where he continued to impress until being snapped up by Celtic in ’08.

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    Mute Kevin Buston
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Cmon rory, hope he holds on. If he does get caught though how could anyone begrudge sergio a major. Especially the british open.

    Great round of golf by shane lowry today, 65 in the final round in a major is world class.

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    Mute Simon Gregg
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    Jul 20th 2014, 4:38 PM

    His “f— it”, shot on camera on the 18th green was priceless

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    Mute Margaret Flanagan
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:03 PM

    Great round Shane. Well done.Come on Rory. Irish Golfers simply the best :-)

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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:41 PM

    He doesn’t consider himself Irish though?

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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:48 PM

    Thumbs down from the bandwagon jumpers!

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    Mute thetruth
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:18 PM

    Amazing to think that if he had not blown the masters he’d have had a career slam at only 25

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    Mute Brian Moynihan
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Hold on Rory

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    Mute Ronan Stokes
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:28 PM

    Stand up for the Ulster man! Brilliant stuff from Rory!

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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:05 PM

    That sham of a flag which he will wrap himself in later.

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    Mute Festered Uncle
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:23 PM

    What ? The Offaly flag?

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    Mute Mark Lillis
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:51 PM

    Go home Mark Kelly you’re drunk.

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    Mute Step Off
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:38 PM

    Rory handing off that fat kid, lolololol.

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    Mute David Dunne
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    Jul 20th 2014, 9:59 PM

    Three Irish men in the top 10

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    Mute Goldberg
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:07 PM

    Heckler has been kicked out for giving McIlroy hassle – wonder if it was Olympic related

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    Mute Paul Geraghty
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:57 PM

    C’mon fowler and if you can’t win and looking to big an ask come on Garcia

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    Mute Paul Geraghty
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:16 PM

    Don’t like him at all but I suppose it is good for a British person to win the British Open

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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:32 PM

    He’s British by choice though. His caddie is Irish so a good day for us too.

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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Jul 20th 2014, 6:37 PM

    Kinda anyway. Don’t want to go stealing British athletes. They do that to us often enough!

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    Mute Aidan Lennon
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Get in the hole!

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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Jul 20th 2014, 5:32 PM

    Doesn’t look like Lowry’s going to win.. does it?

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    Mute Brian Delivers
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    Jul 21st 2014, 3:50 AM

    He has plenty of time to practice seeing as he’s not are signing autographs for children now. Just push them out of the way and get your scorescard in eh For?

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