Niall Sludden says he’ll test himself in the club scene before making any decision on his Tyrone future.
The 31-year-old was a peripheral figure with the Red Hands this season, featuring in hist two of the six Championship games, one of those as a sub.
After winning an Allstar award and an All-Ireland medal less than two years ago, the Dromore man has slipped down the pecking order.
“I want to get back with the club and see how I go.
“You’ll definitely know in the Championship and the League where you’re at, and then I’ll make a decision,” he said.
“I have been there for a good time and I have really enjoyed my time with Tyrone.
“Who knows what’s coming ahead, but I definitely know there’s a lot of younger boys there who are going to hopefully carry on the baton.”
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Sludden made just one start in this year’s Championship – in the round robin win over Armagh – and didn’t make it off the bench in any of the next three games, against Westmeath, Donegal and Kerry.
“It didn’t happen. You’re waiting, and I suppose there’s a lot of other boys waiting as well.
“I was ready and prepared, and that’s all you can do, but I know there’s a lot of younger players around the team, so there’s no point in crying about it.
“Sometimes substitutions work, sometimes they don’t, but I was ready to go.”
A heavy All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry ended a campaign that never caught fire for the 2021 champions.
They came close to elimination in the round robin series, surviving with a draw against Westmeath only by virtue of John Heslin’s missed free right at the death.
“You know what, we could have even been out against Westmeath, that’s the way I look at it. If Heslin had put that over, we maybe would have deserved that.”
And the clash with the Kingdom ended in a heavy 12-point quarter-final defeat and a tame exit from the race for the Sam Maguire Cup.
“It was a very disappointing performance, and watching the semi-finals, it was hard watching them, because you always want to be there.
“We just didn’t get going on the day, and we have to take responsibility for that.
“It’s hard to put your finger on it. But the future is bright in Tyrone, there’s plenty of young boys.
“We want to be pushing on. Derry and the likes of Armagh and different teams are setting the bar, and we need to be making sure we get there.
“It’s up to everybody to make sure that Tyrone get back challenging again against the top teams, and hopefully they can do that.”
After being starved of action during a frustrating inter-county season, the versatile Sludden is happy to be back with his club, and catching up on game time in the Tyrone League.
He has played in the last three matches, helping Dromore hold on to the Division One leadership with eight wins from eight.
“I’m just glad to get now to the club football. I need that bit of football.
“You can train and do all the training as well, but games are what matter.”
They had to battle to the end to get the better of Eglish at the weekend, chiselling out a 0-14 to 1-9 win.
Newly promoted Eglish have recorded some impressive results in their first season back in Division One, and made life difficult for the League leaders at Connolly Park.
“You know what you’re going to get up there. Any team in this division is tough, but Eglish pipped us a couple of years ago, and we were close in the Championship a few years ago as well.”
