CATHAL MCSHANE RETURNED to training with Tyrone last night after turning down a contract with AFL side Adelaide Crows following a 10-day trial last month.
The 24-year-old was offered a two-year international rookie B contract by the Crows, but announced his decision on Wednesday night to remain in Ireland and continue his inter-county career.
Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland yesterday, McShane revealed that a job offer by the Keystone Group helped persuade him to stay.
“This career opportunity given to me by Keystone was a big deciding factor in me staying,” he said.
“We’re in a very fortunate position in Tyrone. Everyone knows I love putting on the red and white jersey of Tyrone. So those two things had a big bearing on me staying here and I’m looking forward to my future ahead.
“It was very close. Obviously, there’s deadlines in terms of decisions.
“It did come down to the wire in terms of the last day I had to make the decision.”
We are delighted to announce that Cathal McShane, Tyrone GAA All Star is joining the company
— Keystone Lintels (@KeystoneLintels) February 6, 2020
Sean Coyle “Cathal is recognized as one of the best Gaelic footballers in Ireland. His commitment & attitude on & off the pitch will be a great asset to Keystone" https://t.co/1O9beUg1mU pic.twitter.com/Rp8Hkc0JYJ
McShane had until Tuesday to make a call on his future and made his final decision on Monday.
“I knew what I wanted to do it was just seeing that through and making sure I made the right decision. I feel I have. I feel I have good opportunities on the field and off the field going forward.”
Asked about his time in Australia, McShane said: “It was something that I really enjoyed. I felt that I did really well when I was out there. The game was a new experience for me.
“The boys out there were really welcoming and the club made me feel very welcome but, again, once I came back to Ireland I knew that I had to weigh up my options and I had to see what was the best for me going forward in my future.”
Tyrone boss Mickey Harte was naturally pleased that his leading forward turned down the Aussie advances.
“I’d been talking to him regularly since he came home. It did look like he could be on his way.
“It was a good enough deal that he had out there. He was happy with it. We couldn’t be stopping him. We just wished he wouldn’t go. We believed we could give him something just as good at home here.
“He’s a serious players with serious ability and I think he will be able to show that (last season) wasn’t a flash in the pan.”
McShane is in the running to feature against Kerry this weekend in their Division 1 clash at Healy Park.
“I’m not too sure,” the Owen Roes clubman said of his potential involvement against the Kingdom.
“Obviously that’s exciting. The games in the league are very important for Tyrone and we want to be picking up enough points as possible.
“I guess getting back to training will be the first thing and we can go from there.”
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It’s all smoke and mirrors lads. With that particular skin tone I’m surprised he lasted ten days out in Oz.
Jayz some fierce bitter comments. As a Dub & GAA man I’m delighted to see him stay. Our game needs it’s best players and if he gets a job out of it good for him. Well done Keystone
@John Mc Grane: well said
@John Mc Grane: Well said and I hope the young man does well for Tyrone and in his new job.
Great news that he is staying. I am a gaelic football fan, I have no interest in seeing him in the AFL. I want to see talented players like McShane here but I don’t want that to happen out of some form of miss guided loyalty.
Fair play to Tyrone GAA they saw they were going to lose one of their main men, their hands were tied as they couldn’t pay him but the they were pro-active in using their influence to create a great opportunity for him at home. Win win for McShane, 2 fantastic opportunities on front of him. I am glad he chose the local one.
@Kevin McMahon:
That’s everything that’s wrong with the GAA if you ask me.
@Nollaig Elliot: what are you on about you muppet
He made a decision and that’s it
I heard anyway there was a clause in the offer he got that said if he didn’t make the cut after the first year good luck
He looks like a thick bullix anyway
It’s funny how a job opportunity come up when he gets back did Mickey Heart organise that so he wouldn’t go could the company not held the job open until he came back I wonder how the rest of the team especially whichever player would have been playing in his position and now is back on bench .I think Mickey heart has a lot to answer making Mcshane so guilty that gave up a chance of a life time a number of lads and lassie would give their right arm for that chance and Mcshane turns it down because of hearts rant last week. It’s sad to see a manager can have that much influence on a player in stay of encouraging him to spread his wings and wish him all the best. If Tyrone don’t do well in the all Ireland championship he’s going to regret that decision not have gone to Australia
@Moya Power-kelly: There’s a helluva lot of speculation there. You can’t know his thoughts or his relationship with MH. Ridiculous
@Gary Donlan: if you go on Twitter you will see a comment from a Aussie rule player about it
@Moya Power-kelly: moya give it a rest will you. You have been on every article slating Mickey HARTE for his involvement in mcshane staying. What do you want him to do drive him to the airport and pack his bags for him? The lad got offered a good job alongside the opportunity to stay at home and play for Tyrone. He could have went over there and never made it for all you know. Any excuse for the likes of clueless people like you who haven’t a notion what they are talking about to have a go at Mickey harte
@Moya Power-kelly:
Not necessarily. I know of a lad through my step sisters husband, who turned down numerous clubs in Melbourne cause he only played footy to play with his mates and his aul lad owned an electrical contracting business that he wanted to eventually carry on in the family. Maybe it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
@Moya Power-kelly: by the way if your gonna slag Mickey harte at least get the man’s name right
@Moya Power-kelly: Oh get over yourself.
Tyrone the Saracens of GAA
@Thomas Bohan: ah jeez wept what an absurd comparison
I’m glad to see him back but that’s a photo that could have been done without.a bit like a transfer deadline day shot minus the countys colours.
You state that he’s in the running to face Kerry when in the next sentence he’s just said he’s not too sure. Christ almighty like
@Mel Roberts: He doesn’t pick the team
@Mel Roberts: there’s also conversations about over the odds payment for a job, a car and a site for a house thrown into the mixer too. “Amateur organisation” though…….
@Mel Roberts: must be hard being so angry all the time.
@Michael Oats:
I don’t think there’s any problem with anyone using their profile to get a better job. Who instigated it is irrelevant. Good luck to both him and Tyrone. I hate to see any player leaving for Aussie rules.
@Michael Oats: Nothing new there. Amateur sports stars have been taking advantage of their “stardom” to get better jobs for as long as I can remember. Good luck to them. I say they deserve it for the entertainment they give us.
@John O’Farrell: Kevin must do does he as cathal effectively ruled himself out
@Michael Oats: suppose now that cathal got himself a job outta this that’s a conversation we need to bring up. We can just sweep the 18 million hand out Dublin got under the carpet though
@Mel Roberts: you’re an almighty narrow minded little man
@my name: and very angry…. he should really get that looked about.
@Chubby Cox: nothing angry about me pal. Tyrones best player committed to staying. Off work for the weekend. Out for feed of pints with the boys tomorrow and watch the rugby, life is good my friend
@Mel Roberts: you could fool alot of people then….. Just like Tyrone football and Mickey Harte. Pal.
@Chubby Cox: and how exactly are Mickey harte and Tyrone football fooling people? The real issue you have with Tyrone stems from an imaginary line that we are in the other side of just like every other salty Mexican from South of it
@Mel Roberts: and this is yu not angry???
@Mel Roberts: also how do you know which side of your “Imaginary Line” I am on?
@Chubby Cox: That’s just me pointing out a fact pal. Nothing angry about it. Can tell it’s exactly what side your on from your salty comment on mh and Tyrone
@Henry Toye: you are correct there. In rugby it was always the case for the best players in the amature days. These guys put in huge time and effort so we can enjoy watching their skills.
@Mel Roberts: saying he isn’t too sure hardly counts as ruling himself out.
Sicken your backside. He was never going to Oz. Hell of a player. Glad to see him stay, our game needs an old-school full forward and he is that. Win his own ball and kick his own score. No need to have Micky Harte in the pic. Can the lad not accept a job without Harte floating around looking his cut. Man does nothing for free.
They make great lintels though.