Sean Cavanagh’s involvement in next month’s International Rules series is in serious doubt.
Cavanagh has been invited by Ireland manager Joe Kernan to join his squad, despite his retirement from inter-county football.
But club, family and business commitments could keep the former Tyrone and Ireland captain at home.
Moy have reached the Tyrone Intermediate Championship final, and if they win the title next weekend, they will go on to represent the county in the Ulster Club Championship.
A win over Derrylaughan could also rule out Cavanagh’s younger brother Colm, who is also in Kernan’s plans for the two-Test series against Australia in Adelaide on November 11 and Perth on November 18.
“It is going to be tough. I said to Joe I would see how things go with the club, and things are progressing rather well,” said former Footballer of the Year Cavanagh.
“So it may be difficult to commit if the run keeps going, but we’ll just take it week by week at this stage.”
Other factors have added to the complications facing Cavanagh over his decision on whether to commit to a swansong with the international squad.
His wife Fionnuala is expecting the couple’s third child in the coming weeks, while a fire at his recently established accountancy practice in Moy has forced him to temporarily re-locate the business.
“The International Rules is something I’ve always loved doing, but there’s certain priorities.
“I had a fire in the business this week, and my wife is heavily pregnant at this stage, so there’s lots of things happening in my life at the moment.”
Cavanagh, who captained Ireland to series success over the Australians in 2008, confirmed his retirement from inter-county football in August following a 16-year career which saw win three All-Ireland titles with Tyrone.
Now he plans to devote himself to helping Moy regain senior status, and they’re just 60 minutes away from promotion following last weekend’s IFC semi-final win over Gortin.
“It’s enjoyable, it’s a less pressurised scenario, the management doesn’t put too much onus on the way we set up or play, it’s go out and enjoy your football, and it’s an enjoyable environment.
“With a big crowd out in Carrickmore, playing with your club and with all your community around you, it’s why you play football
“It’s been a long time since we were in a county final, we’re there now and we’ll look forward to Derrylaughan.
“We lost it in ’08, so this is my second chance at a final with the Moy. There’ll be a good buzz around the town this week.”
The club has benefited not only from Cavanagh’s departure from the inter-county scene, but from the availability of their other two Tyrone players, Colm Cavanagh and Harry Loughran, for the championship campaign.
“It’s quite hard, with three lads away to the county during the year, to get a bit of a run of form through the league.
“But this last four or five weeks, we have been all back in the training field, and you can see those improvements, week after week.”
Loughran starred in attack, hitting two goals to inspire the Tir na nOgs to a 3-9 to 0-5 win over Gortin.
“Harry has got that direct burst of pace that you can’t really coach, and he has got a great eye for goal,” said Cavanagh.
“And when you’re playing against the breeze and you’re getting goals like that, they’re huge scores.
“It knocked the stuffing out of Gortin and it was always going to be a tough task for them, because we sat back in the second half and were able to play the ball longer into our forward line.”
