Cathal McShane says the recent departures from the Tyrone squad have left the Red Hands in a weaker position to defend their All-Ireland SFC crown.

Tiernan McCann, Mark Bradley, Ronan O'Neill, Hugh Pat McGeary, Michael Cassidy and most recently Lee Brennan have all left the Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher’s panel since last year’s Sam Maguire success.

The team’s Allianz League form five rounds in sees them with a win, a draw and three losses ahead of this weekend’s clash with Mayo in Omagh and McShane says there’s no doubt that the loss in strength-in-depth within the squad has been felt.

"Some of the lads who have stepped away would be very competitive Gaelic footballers. They have done a lot for Tyrone over the last few years,” the Owen Roe O’Neills attacker told RTE Sport.  

"Everybody has personal issues they have to deal with in life. I have no doubt that if they had stayed in place this year, we’d be in a much healthier position, the competition within the team would have been serious.

"I’m not saying it’s not now – in Garvaghy on a Tuesday and Thursday night the lads are pushing each other on – but the experience that some of those guys had, it definitely would have added to what we are about this year."

He added: "The guys that stepped away, they might not have been getting the starting jersey, but it could have been an option to try and show this year they could push on, get a starting jersey and put Tyrone in an even better place.

"But like I say, things happen in your private life that you need to deal with. Who is to say a few of those guys won’t be back next year?"

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