CORMAC Quinn’s breakthrough season with Tyrone unravelled in the latter part of 2023 as a promising career hit the rocks.
The Errigal Ciaran defender hasn’t played for his club this year, but he’s now hoping to see light at the end of the tunnel.
A catalogue of injuries, surgeries and false dawns has plagued the 23-year-old for more than a year, stalling his progress with club and county.
But if last year’s beaten finalists can reach the advanced stages of the Tyrone SFC, he may get to play some part in the title challenge.
“It’s definitely possible, but I’m under no illusions myself,” he said.
“I had an operation a couple of weeks ago, and I was thinking I would maybe be back (for the first round), but at this stage, I’m just keeping it week in week out and see where it goes from there.”
Quinn, a former Red Hand U20 captain, was one of the brightest prospects to burst upon the senior scene last year, quickly nailing down a place in the Tyrone defence.
But a groin injury brought it all to a sudden halt, and he’s been struggling ever since.
“After last year, I was itching to get at it, but even with Tyrone, injuries have been plaguing me since January, February time.
“So it’s definitely been a tough year, and I can’t wait to get back.”
It’s been a difficult time for a young man with a passion for the cut and thrust of inter-county and club action, as he watched on helplessly from the sidelines.
“It’s been a difficult summer for me, and after last summer, when I didn’t get playing much football, it’s been disappointing.
“I’m going through different procedures, I had an operation there a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s a slow road, but definitely a bit more positive than it was a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s probably tougher watching on than playing, but I have good support, a good family and good lads around me.
“Tommy Canavan is injured too, and he has been very good to me, the both of us would link up, and it’s men like that you lean on.”
An extended run in the championship for Errigal could offer the opportunity he has been longing for.
They negotiated a tricky first hurdle against Pomeroy, hanging on for a three-point win after conceding two goals to the underdogs.
“You’re never going to get an easy game in the Tyrone championship, I have yet to see one.
“Two goals is never good to concede, and it’s definitely something we’re going to have to be looking at sharply for the next round.
“That’s all you’re looking at from these games, to get plenty of learning from it.
“Even from the league game we played them it was a similar story – two goals, and it came down to the very end, but that day we pulled away a wee bit more at the end.
“If you look at their team, there’s quality all through it, so we were under no illusions.”
A quarter-final meeting with Clonoe is next up, and again Errigal Ciaran will go in as favourites to take a step further at Dungannon on Sunday.
“First rounds are for winning, and now it’s just all about building, and that’s all we’re focused on now, the quarter-final.”
Errigal finished top of the Division One league, and will contest the title play-offs, while Clonoe are facing a relegation play-off following a difficult campaign.
But Quinn insisted that league form is no barometer when it comes to the notoriously unpredictable Tyrone championship.
“This is my sixth year playing, and it’s always been the same. League and championship, especially in Tyrone, are completely different.
“League is for getting prepared for the championship. We were every week taking it slow and we had no real big ambitions.
“Top of the league, we’re happy with that, but I don’t think anybody in Tyrone would pass any real remarks on it.
“It’s all about improving for the next day and plenty to go at there.”
