Cathal McShane says he isn’t closing the door on a possible return to Tyrone sooner or later, however insists he’s having fun with his time with Strabane Athletic after stepping away from inter-county responsibility.
The All-Eire winner signed for the Premier Intermediate soccer aspect final June after exiting the Pink Palms panel earlier than the All-Eire sequence.
2019 All-Star winner McShane, who scored a aim in Tyrone’s 2021 All-Eire ultimate victory over Mayo, is making ready to face Irish Premiership heavyweights Glentoran within the Irish Cup fifth spherical at Melvin Park Area on Saturday (13:30 GMT).
“I would not say it is ever closed,” the three-time Ulster SFC winner instructed BBC Sport NI when requested about his Tyrone profession.
“It [stepping away] is one thing I needed to do at the moment simply to take a little bit of a break for myself, simply to get a number of issues proper and mainly a reset greater than something.”
He added: “Within the low season I all the time play a little bit of soccer. Perhaps this time there was extra fabricated from it or no matter. For me, it is nearly having fun with what I am doing on the minute and seeing what the longer term holds.
“I might by no means say it is closed. I am going to proceed to work exhausting and ensure of my physique and that I am in the perfect form doable. That is the plan going ahead and also you by no means know, we’ll see the story going ahead.”
McShane joined Strabane in June after the membership earned promotion to the third tier of the Irish League.
They confronted Cliftonville within the Guess McLean last-16 in November, shedding 5-2 at Solitude, however are hoping to drag off an enormous upset once they host 23-time Irish Cup winners Glentoran on Saturday.
“They are a formidable aspect and have been doing incredible,” added McShane, who scored an extra-time winner for Strabane of their BetMcLean Cup win over Loughgall earlier this season.
“I have been keeping track of the outcomes lately. They’ve a number of ex-Derry gamers and Finn Harps gamers in there, they’ve loads of top of the range.
“We all know we’ll be up in opposition to it however our purpose is to benefit from the event, give it our greatest shot and see the way it pans out.”
