As Tyrone travel to Killarney to face Kerry in Round 5 of the National Football League, we remember Cormac McAnallen who passed away twenty years ago this weekend. He left an indelible impression on Gaels far and wide, particularly in his home county of Tyrone. At the time of his death, Cormac was our captain and decorated with almost every honour a gaelic footballer can win. His untimely passing denied us a magnificent presence and the strongest of characters.
I would like to wish our joint manager Feargal Logan well in his recovery from illness and hope to see him rejoin Brian Dooher on the sideline in the near future.
Transition has been the theme of Tyrone’s year to date, beginning with two narrow defeats to Ulster opposition Armagh and Donegal in the McKenna Cup. Tyrone suffered further departures from the panel with the experienced trio of Ronan McNamee, Niall Sludden and Richie Donnelly calling it a day over the winter.
The league has brought its ups and downs already with two wins and two defeats from our four outings to date. Roscommon were easily beaten but a heavy defeat to Derry in Celtic Park brought us quickly back to earth. Plenty of lads have made their competitive debuts and acquitted themselves well but we await the return of several key players. Ahead of the Kerry game, Mattie Donnelly and Cathal McShane have been named in the matchday squad for the first time this season. Frank Burns, Conor Meyler and Michael O’Neill have also yet to see action in 2024.
The panel looks noticeably different to 2021. Aidan Clarke, Ciaran Daly, Conall Devlin, Niall Devlin and Seanie O’Donnell have started all four league games. Darragh Canavan continues to be our shining light while Niall Morgan remains an influential presence. We would be a far worse team without him in it. I have grown to appreciate his forays up the field, adding scores from play and creating assists. His leaps above the crossbar can save us a point or two a game.
It’s undeniable that Derry have cemented their status as kingpins in Ulster. While the heavy defeat to Derry was disheartening, the narrow loss to Galway which followed was the most dissatisfying moment of the season to date. Galway were missing some of the best players in the country and managed to scrape a win when several Tyrone forwards wouldn’t work the shot which could have delivered a draw. That was rectified last week at home to Mayo. In a sensational second half, Darren McCurry returned and showed us just why he won an All Star and Man of the Match in the All Ireland final of 2021.
27 players have seen playing time in the league and a further five appeared in the McKenna Cup. One area in which Tyrone must improve is scoring goals. We have just one so far in the league. Discipline is an area in which we have however improved. Conn Kilpatrick’s harsh red card against Roscommon being our sole sending off in the league campaign to date.
Relegation remains a strong possibility. Taking both points in Killarney tomorrow is a big ask. Kerry will be smarting from their defeat to Dublin last Saturday while Tyrone are still short of key players and not helped by further injuries to Aidan Clarke and Michael McKernan. The meeting with Monaghan in Healy Park on 16 March would appear to be the key fixture for us ahead of Round 7 away to Dublin at Croke Park.
Safe trip to all supporters making the journey. Have a few pints in Tattler Jacks and Reidys for me!
Unofficial Tyrone 