McShane 'fit and fighting hard for a position'

by Francis Mooney

CATHAL McShane's pursuit of fitness and form has found its way following a succession of injury-ravaged years.

The former All-Star has been warming the bench for most of the season, restricted to a few minutes of action here and there during the league.

But his first start of 2025 in the Ulster SFC opener against Cavan has reopened doors that appeared to be firmly shut.

The Owen Roes clubman justified his selection with a solid performance in the Tyrone attack, chipping in with a couple of points and a worthy contribution to a comfortable quarter-final win.

"It was definitely nice to get in there, and the aim is just to keep working hard all year," he said.

"I know probably league minutes I haven't had many but there's just different reasons, but the rest of the boys are playing well and different things.

"I was delighted to be in there and it's Championship football so it's a different ball game.

“For myself, it's good to be out there and playing football and that's what you want."

McShane was one of Gaelic football's hottest properties back in 2020, a man at the top of his game and a target for a number of AFL clubs, but a serious ankle injury sustained during a league clash with Galway at Tuam shattered the dream.

Complications and setbacks stalled a painfully slow recovery, and he has struggled to rediscover the dazzle and panache that made him a flame-haired sensation.

"Every player is similar. Obviously a few years ago I had bad injuries but I've been working hard, that's one thing I always do, I've never shied away from the hard work, gym and rehab and getting out there and making myself available.

"I'm just focused on the future and at the minute I'm fit and fighting hard for a position so it's definitely good to be playing."

Now he's ready to push on and make a big statement at Clones on Saturday, when Tyrone tackle the All-Ireland champions.

"There's always a big rivalry there, it's always a fantastic game so hopefully this time it'll be no different."

Seventy minutes-plus of high intensity performance will be required of a Tyrone team still smarting from the loss of Division One status.

A busy and fruitful first half display against Cavan was followed by a sluggish second and a worrying drop-off that manager Malachy O'Rourke is keen to address.

"We had a significant lead and then they came back so it's just about whenever you have that lead you keep tramping on, you keep pushing on," McShane said.

"It's just about trying your best, so I think first half we did that and then second half we started well and we kind of gathered a big lead but we let them back in.

"So we'll have to look at that and try and fix it but no doubt the next day it'll be a different game altogether so we'll have to get ready for it.

"But I think that's a good place to be as well, knowing that you're not going in the next round perfect either."

McShane wants to see Tyrone fans flocking to St Tiernach's Park on Saturday, and appealed to the stayaway supporters who have become disenchanted to place their faith in the team once again.

"We want to see the white and red everywhere and I think that galvanises us and pushes us on and whenever you hear them obviously getting in and making noise.

"It's a journey, that's how we look at it and whenever we're out there playing, we're playing for the fans, we're playing for the badge and we're playing for the jersey.

"So having the big support, having the big crowd here definitely drives us on and that's what we need and we need it in our next game and hopefully for the rest of the year going forward."

With McShane fully fit again, Darragh Canavan on his way back from injury and Darren McCurry in sparkling form, Tyrone have the attacking power to take on and torment Armagh's defence.

McCurry was voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week following his brilliant performance in the quarter-final victory over Cavan.

The Tyrone forward received 2,282 votes on the GAA's Official Instagram page which put him ahead of Dublin's Con O'Callaghan (1,908) and Meath's Mathew Costello (1,737).

"Darren McCurry was sharp for Tyrone, who overcame Cavan at O'Neill's Healy Park in the Ulster SFC. McCurry scored seven points, including five from play, for Malachy O'Rourke's outfit," said the GAA's website.

Players of the Week are decided based on votes cast by followers of the Official GAA Instagram page.