TYRONE boss Mickey Harte is giving time and space to Omagh brothers Joe and Justin McMahon to decide upon their inter-county futures ahead of the new season.
Joe and Justin, both over 30, have been injury-plagued over the past 12 months – but they have not expressed any intention of stepping away from the county panel.
Justin (31) fought his way back to fitness last season to play a key role in Tyrone winning their first Ulster title since 2010.
Elder brother Joe (33) was sidelined for the entire inter-county season after suffering a serious groin injury in the 2015 All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.
Joe’s prospects of making a successful return to county colours have been further hampered by a hamstring injury he sustained in a club game last month.
“Joey McMahon has been injured the last couple of years and he got another injury playing for Omagh in the League semi-final, so that has knocked him right back,” said Harte.
“He hasn’t said that he’s not going to try and still be there but for the next number of months he’s not in the script because he’s carrying injuries that are going to stop him being able to do full training.
“And, as the season goes on, you always know that this makes it more difficult for anybody to catch up, particularly for someone at the latter stages of their career.”
One of the leading lights in Tyrone over the last 11 seasons, Joe has been equally adept at playing anywhere in defence or midfield, and has two All-Ireland winners medals from ’05 and ’08.
Famously, the two McMahon brothers successfully marked Kerry’s twin towers Tommy Walsh and Kieran Donaghy in the 2008 All-Ireland final.
Harte added: “Joe never got a chance to get a steady run [last year]. And when you’re always starting behind the rest, then it’s very difficult. When the season heats up, around the latter stages of the League, it’s very difficult to catch up.
“In fact, you shouldn’t be able to because that would mean the rest of the team aren’t doing their job.”
Like Joe, Justin has yet to declare whether he will be staying on for another season.
“Injuries just seemed to follow Justy around in the latter stages of his career too. He just seemed to pick up niggles and knocks that you’d least expect.
“I don’t know what his position is either at the minute. There has been no declaration of definite intent at this stage. It’s still undecided.”
