HE has won virtually every honour at the top level, but Cathal McShane has never played senior football with his club.
He has a chance to put that right this weekend with a shot at promotion in the Tyrone Intermediate Championship final.
The All-Ireland winner and former Allstar will captain Owen Roe's in the title decider against Moortown at O’Neills Healy Park, hoping to lead the club back to the premier grade following a 43-year absence.
“It would be nice, but we know that there are no easy games in Division Two, and the Championship final against Moortown will not be easy, they had a fantastic win against the Rock last week,” said McShane.
“We’re trying to drive standards all the time. Over the last number of years we have worked so, so hard and we came out of Healy Park many years with our tails between our legs, so disappointed because we didn’t come out the right side of the result.
“I know the amount of work that all those boys, and we’re just delighted to get over the line and into the final, because the boys deserve that, they have been absolutely brilliant.”
Owen Roes manager Paddy Campbell believes a club triumph on Saturday would mean as much to McShane as the Celtic Cross he won at Croke Park.
“I’m sure Cathal would treasure lifting the cup as much if not more than the All-Ireland, I honestly think that,” said the former Donegal defender.
“And it would mean so much to the club, to the old people who haven’t seen so much silverware come to the club in the last 15 to 20 years.”
A semi-final marathon for the Leckpatrick men ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out last weekend, a week after the game should have been played.
But the original tie was abandoned after just three minutes of playing time after the Air Ambulance was called to Healy Park to assist injured Owen Roes player Ryan Devine.
Seven days later, they resumed their last four clash with Gortin, which finished level on 1-13 each after extra-time.
The north Tyrone side emerged winners by 4-1 in the spot-kick eliminator to go through to the decider.
“There’s obviously a bit of noise when you’re going in there, but we just had to pick the five men that were going to step up, and credit the boys that stepped up and converted them. We were brave and we were powerful in there,” said McShane, who netted his side’s second penalty.
“It’s not a nice way for Gortin to go out, but we’re just delighted.
“It’s really nice to be playing with your club and winning with your club, but again, we just have to regroup and go at it again.
“We only have six or seven days to prepare for this next game, so we’re going to be up against it.
“It’s about getting the bodies right, seeing how many men came through.
“Moortown are going to be a serious side, they’re full of good players and they showed that last week.”
