McGurk was born in Lavey and attended school at St Patrick's College, Maghera in County Londonderry.
Johnny and Collie were part of the Derry team that won the 1993 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
The All-Ireland Club title was no doubt his biggest achievement in sport and six of his brothers were teammates on the victorious panel.
In later years, McGurk joined St Brigid's in Belfast and helped them win the Antrim Junior Championship in 2004.
McGurk played for Derry in the 1985 Ulster Senior Football Championship final, but the county were beaten by Monaghan.
[citation needed] In 1977 McGurk was part of the first ever St Pat's team to win the MacRory Cup.