McMahon looks back on Cormac’s special welcome

Tyrone legend Cormac McAnallen, right, passed away tragically in 2004

JOE McMahon was a fresh-faced youngster when the call came to join the Tyrone panel for the start of the 2004 season. Just months earlier he had celebrated in the Cusack Stand as Peter Canavan lifted the Sam Maguire Cup.

Now he was joining him and the other heroes in the dressing-room and readily admits that was a daunting enough experience. But a welcome that he hasn’t forgotten came from a not unexpected source, Cormac McAnallen.

“One memory of mine is coming into the team and Cormac being very welcoming and supportive. He was the player who passed me my very first ball after I was introduced as a sub in the 2004 McKenna Cup final.

“Looking back at the great player and the great man that he was, a lot of the players definitely drew inspiration from him and played the shirts off their backs. That was proven in 2005 and Cormac’s legacy lives on.”

Our exclusive interview with Joe McMahon is available in store today or online here.