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'Small steps back into society' for Tyrone's Feargal Logan after suffering stroke

Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher pictured at the McKenna Cup match against Armagh last January
Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher pictured at the McKenna Cup match against Armagh last January

Tyrone's All-Ireland winning joint-manager Feargal Logan has revealed that he suffered a stroke while at home last February.

While preparing for a clash with Derry in the Allianz Football League, Logan felt a heaviness in his legs as he got to the top of the stairs. Thinking it was the result of a strenuous workout at the gym the day before, the 55-year-old was actually displaying the effects of a stroke and was taken to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

At the time Tyrone GAA asked for privacy for Logan after revealing he had unspecified health issues.

Speaking for the first time since since his health scare, Logan told the BBC that the stroke had injured the balance centre of his brain.

"The usual face, arms, speech, time [FAST] didn't appear relevant, albeit I was on the floor and had been particularly sick," the Stewartstown Harps man said.

"But, as I understand it, balance can be an issue and eyes can be an issue."

Since being discharged from hospital, Logan has been getting home rehabilitation from the Southern Health Trust's Community Stroke Team, but he admitted that the suddenness of what happened to him on 4 February was difficult to cope with.

"There is a shock in it," he said. "There's a vulnerability post-event. Now it's small steps back into society and back into life.

"It's clichéd but you appreciate your health when you've had a scare. I'm in that boat now.

"I think I'm still relatively young for that boat, but age is no factor in some of these things."

"Hopefully we'll see where the football fits into all that"

On Saturday, Tyrone begin their All-Ireland SFC round-robin campaign away to Donegal in Ballybofey. It's a repeat of their Ulster semi-final clash on 28 April, which Jim McGuinness' side won narrowly after extra-time.

Logan hopes to contribute in some small way, as he aims to get back involved alongside his fellow joint-manager Brian Dooher.

"If I'm fit and able, it's a lot better than sitting in this room here watching it on TV and nearly breaking the TV a few times," he said.

"I hope to dip my toes back in here as we go forward and it's small steps with everything in life now.

"Hopefully we'll see where the football fits into all that."

Follow a live blog of the All-Ireland SFC group stage games on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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