TYRONE boss Mickey Harte admits he never gave up hope that Cathal McShane would remain with the Red Hands, after the Aussie Rules target made his return to county colours in yesterday’s National League victory over Kerry.
The Allstar forward appeared bound for the AFL after impressing during a 10-day trial with Adelaide Crows. However, last week he dramatically confirmed that he had opted to stay at home and spearhead the Tyrone challenge.
Despite the horrific weather conditions in Edendork, McShane is unlikely to forget the warmth of the welcome back he received after being introduced to the fray five minutes after half-time.
The 24-year-old scored a free as the Red Hands hit back from four down at the break to edge home by one, and Harte insists he always hoped to see McShane back in a Tyrone jersey again.
“We were all delighted that he made the decision to stay and play Gaelic football.
“He's a super player, you will only see him getting better, that's only a taste of what he can do; he's a physical presence, a really good footballer.
“It's not that I didn't think he was gone, he hadn't made up his mind. We were aware that he was considering his options. I always said, as long as he hasn't signed anything for the AFL, I was still optimistic that he would deal with us and thankfully, through the auspices of the good people of Tyrone, he is staying.”
After the disappointment of the previous weekend’s defeat to Monaghan, Harte had hoped for a reaction – and he was thankful for some local knowledge at Pairc Arthur Mallon as Edendork men Niall Morgan and Darren McCurry proved pivotal figures.
“That's typical of Darren McCurry,” said Harte.
“When he is confident, he is ultra-confident and on his own pitch before his own people he has done this many times at training so it was just like another day, another task he would do.”
It was a disappointing day for Peter Keane, whose side not only lost the game, they also lost captain David Clifford to a second yellow card late on following a tussle with Tyrone sub Ben McDonnell.
“It is easy pickings to say there are two fellas involved and I will give both of them both yellows and because he had picked up one early in the first half, two yellows make a red.”
When asked whether he felt Clifford was being targeted this year, especially in the wake of their League opener against Dublin, Keane replied: “I suppose whether it is this year, last year, the year before… he is a good player and you are going to mark a good player whoever he is.”
