DIFFERENT perspectives produce different views.
From the outside, there seemed a certain flatness about Tyrone last year, a sense of waiting for the hammer to fall in the championship, for the inevitable exit. The Red Hands were a team in transition.
From the inside, though, Seanie O’Donnell, insists they felt they could go further than the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-final, the stage at which they departed, at home to Roscommon.
“When you’re involved with the team you always have that belief. Obviously on the day we weren’t good enough. We just have to stare it in the face and move on.”
The biggest change for the Red Hands this season is at the top, with former Fermanagh and Monaghan boss Malachy O’Rourke having come in as manager to replace Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher.
Besides bringing the Ulster and All-Ireland SFC titles in their debut season of 2021, that duo also introduced a host of younger players to the panel, including O’Donnell himself.
Yet that optimism of youth – he’s still only 21 – doesn’t over-reach. When it’s put to him that his cohort, who won an All-Ireland U20 crown in 2022, might feel they are ready to make a major impact this year, he gives a cautious reply:
“Hopefully. You always want that, but we still have to prove ourselves. The main bulk of the team still are older lads. It’s another year hopefully to get things right, or see an improvement anyway.”
Although the senior scene has been disappointing since 2021, especially in championship, Tyrone have collected two more All-Ireland U20 crowns: O’Donnell’s aforementioned 2022 season and again last year.
The 2021 Sam Maguire triumph incorporated Padraig Hampsey, Kieran McGeary, Frank Burns, Conor Meyler, Cathal McShane, and Mark Bradley from the 2015 All-Ireland U21 winners under Dooher, Logan, and Peter Canavan.
Yet it’s worth noting that that ‘Sam’ was won six years on from success at U21 level; it’s less than three years since O’Donnell and company won at U20.
Only he, his cousin Ruairi Canavan, and defender Niall Devlin, the captain of that U20 side, have really established themselves as Tyrone regulars so far, although others have been given chances, including Ciaran Daly, Conor Cush, and Michael McGleenan.
Dooher and Logan boldly tried out even younger lads, from the 2024 All-Ireland U20 winners, including Eoin McElholm and Shea O’Hare, while injuries to others meant wing-back Ben Cullen missed out at that level to start for the seniors.
Although O’Rourke will be without 2021 captain Hampsey due to a shoulder injury - Dromore full-back Peter Teague is a potential replacement - the manager will still have many of that All-Irealand winning starting side available to give his Tyrone team plenty of experience.
The likes of Allstar goalkeeper Niall Morgan, Michael McKernan, the highly versatile former captain Mattie Donnelly, midfielders Conn Kilpatrick and Brian Kennedy, Conor Meyler, Kieran McGeary, and Darren McCurry offer a strong base on which to build.
Stylish defender Rory Brennan has been persuaded back to the senior set-up, as has livewire attacker Mark Bradley, and the latter will surely start against Derry given that the Canavan brothers, Darragh and Ruairi both suffered concussion during their club Errigal Ciaran’s All-Ireland SFC final defeat last Sunday by Cuala of Dublin.
Although he has operated as a wing-back for his club and for St Mary’s in the Sigerson Cup, O’Donnell admits his preference is a place in attack: “I’ve never really been able to answer this. Probably half-forward, that role, is my favourite – but obviously I’m happy just to be picked.”
Fitness permitting, that should be a given, considering O’Donnell’s talent and versatility.
O’Donnell is one of those who has been involved in the Sigerson Cup – with St Mary’s – along with his inter-county commitments, so availability could determine some selections to host Derry on Saturday evening.
It’s unlikely that O’Rourke will press any of his Errigal Ciaran clubmates back into action so soon, even if he could do with the talent of defender Cormac Quinn, midfielders Ben McDonnell and Joe Oguz, and especially Peter Harte.
Last season’s Tyrone captain produced an outstanding second half to haul Errigal close to an astonishing comeback, but O’Rourke will know how much a run to an All-Ireland Final takes out of players after his experiences with Glen.
His in-depth knowledge of Derry football will help this weekend, and the Maghera men’s surprise defeat in their county final has also allowed him more time with Tyrone, certainly more than the new man in charge of the Oak Leafers, Paddy Tally.
Tyrone have got themselves out of trouble on a few occasions to maintain their top flight status – indeed they’re now embarking on a 10th consecutive season in Division One, with only Kerry enjoying a longer tenure.
Nothing will be settled after one game, obviously, but there’s a strong need to win Saturday evening’s opener in Healy Park. After that there are two away trips, to Armagh and Mayo, and two more later in the campaign, to Galway and Donegal.
A new season, a new manager, and yet another Tyrone man taking charge of Derry – this time Paddy Tally – should all surely contribute to a much-needed improvement in both the atmosphere and attendance in Omagh.
With big guns Kerry and Dublin the other visitors, in rounds four and seven respectively, home advantage may be tested to its limits in this highly competitive Division One.
For now, though, the perceptions of Tyrone from within and without will surely align.
O’Donnell was talking about the new rules, but his comments could equally apply to this new era for the Red Hands:
“It’s exciting, something different, brings a fresh perspective to training and games. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes.”
Fixtures (Division One):
Sat Jan 25: Derry (H) Healy Park, 6pm
Sat Feb 1: Armagh (a) Athletic Grounds, 6pm
Sun Feb 16: Mayo (a), Castlebar, 1.45pm
Sun Feb 23: Kerry (H) Healy Park, 1.45pm
Sun March 2: Galway (a) Tuam, 1.45pm
Sun March 16: Donegal (a) Letterkenny, 3.30pm
Sun March 23: Dublin (H) Healy Park, 3.45pm
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Cavan (a)
2024 League results:
Tyrone 0-17 Roscommon 1-11
Derry 1-12 Tyrone 0-9
Tyrone 0-12 Galway 1-10
Tyrone 1-15 Mayo 1-11
Kerry 0-18 Tyrone 1-11
Tyrone 1-19 Monaghan 2-13
Dublin 5-18 Tyrone 0-12
2024 Championship results:
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Cavan 3-16 Tyrone 1-23 (aet)
Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 0-18 Tyrone 0-16 (aet)
All-Ireland SFC Group 3:
Donegal 0-21 Tyrone 0-14
Tyrone 3-15 Clare 0-10
Cork 0-17 Tyrone 1-18
All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final: Tyrone 0-12 Roscommon 0-14
Five-year league record:
2024: Division: One; Points: 6; Position: 5th
2023: Division: One; Points: 8; Position: 4th
2022: Division: One; Points: 7; Position: 5th
2021: Division: One North; Points: 3; Position: 2nd of 4
2020: Division: One; Points: 8; Position: 4th
