The bid for a third "Sam Maguire" gets back on track for the senior footballers of Tyrone this Saturday evening with a tricky All Ireland qualifier tie against Louth at Drogheda. Tyrone will well remember their last trip to play Louth in the All Ireland qualifiers back in 2006 when it took a replay on that occasion and will be hoping that on this occasion they can do the job first time around.
Louth are a bit of an unknown quantity but on their home patch are capable of causing a shock so Tyrone will treat them with caution and respect but ultimately will know that if they are to make any progress via this back door system then they need to be beating sides like Louth as there are bigger fish still to be fried with the likes of Meath, Kerry, Derry, Donegal amongst others still in the equation so this is a must win encounter for Tyrone.
Mickey Harte will be hoping to have a near full strength panel available for selection this weekend. Following the recent WJ Dolan Tyrone Championship games several players came through unscathed with players such as Brian McGuigan beginning to rediscover some of his old form, Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew are back in contention and Colm Cavanagh and Enda McGinley will hopefully be able to resume their places on the side after recent setbacks. If Tyrone are to make any progress then a full strength squad will be required as Louth will use the home advantage to the best of their ability and are known for their robust type of football and not allowing players to settle on the ball so a tough encounter can be expected.
The Louth manager is Eamon McEnanaey who is a former Monaghan footballer and will know the Tyrone players and their style of play inside out and will have done his homework on the side.
He has a few quality footballers in his ranks with the likes of Aaron Hoey, Paddy Keenan, Shane Lennon and Mark Stanfield and they along with others will be hoping to cause a major upset for Tyrone. Louth had a good run in the 2007 All Ireland qualifiers defeating Limerick and Kildare before losing out narrowly to All Ireland finalists Cork so will not be easy pickings for Tyrone.
The grounds at Drogheda are only capable of hosting four and a half thousand spectators and with Tyrone only receiving approximately one thousand eight hundred tickets then a lot of Tyrone supporters will be bitterly disappointed.
Nothing less than a Tyrone win will do, it doesn't matter whether it's by a point or twenty points! Tyrone are in dire need of a win and hopefully a favourable home draw in the next round but before that can happen there's the small matter of Louth, they may be called the Wee County but if they defeat Tyrone on Saturday evening that status could be elevated to the Big County - Lets hope not!
Ulster Final weekend - Tyrone minors bid for more silverware
ith all the limelight and talk of Tyrone football this weekend being centred around the Tyrone senior team and their clash with Louth then the minor footballers who are busily preparing away in the background for their Ulster final clash with Monaghan are being somewhat overlooked but the quiet preparation and the absence of the media spotlight may be exactly what they require.
Clones is the venue this Sunday for the minors date with home side Monaghan and a cracking encounter is in prospect as Tyrone bid to retain their title and claim their 21st Ulster minor crown and their fifth in this current decade after having won titles in 2001, 03, 04 and 07.
The Tyrone management team is Raymond Munroe (Carrickmore), Cathal McAnenly (Errigal Ciarán) and Roger Keenan (Gortin). Ciarán McLaughlin (Strabane) is the link man with the Tyrone County Board and with the Ulster minor league title already annexed all four would be keen to ensure that the championship title is added to the collection and that the boys can go on and bid for the All Ireland crown that the county last won in 2004.
This Tyrone side has some real quality players, in goals, Glenelly lad Tim Harney has been outstanding to date and is without doubt a future Tyrone senior keeper in the making. Tyrone also have fine footballers throughout the field with Kyle Coney, Paddy McNiece, Ryan Pickering, Ciarán Girvan, Mattie Donnelly, Niall McKenna, Diarmaid McNulty and Peter Harte amongst others all capable of ensuring yet another Ulster championship title for the Red Hand County and hopefully going all the way to Croke Park in September.
There has been a lot of anger and furore over the past week about Australian Football coaches being in Ireland actively pursuing our up and coming G.A.A. star players to take them down under to perform in another code. There has even been talk of setting up an Irish based club named Sydney Celtics, the brainchild of former G.P.A. boss Donal O'Neill, I had wondered where he had disappeared to.
Recently the Australians held a trial at Breffni Park, Cavan apparently unknown to G.A.A. officials in the county and this caused the current President of the G.A.A. Nicky Brennan to launch a scathing attack on the Australians for their bare faced cheek but his statement rings hollow and somewhat amazes me as he is the very person who has the power to break off all links with the Australians but instead he and other high ranking G.A.A. officials are just back from a trip down under where they have been finalising details of the forthcoming Irish trip to play the Australians in October, not forgetting the junket of a lifetime for all the so called backroom set up who accompany the team!
I have attended several of these games in the past and to be perfectly honest, there is nothing apart from the International dimension that could have any sway in portraying this game as having anything to do with the promotion of the aims and ideals of the G.A.A.
In recent times the sheer brutality and violence associated with the International series has been an embarrassment to the G.A.A. and coming at a time when we are trying to persuade our children to desist from such activities and promoting the game in a more sporting and disciplined manner.
If Nicky Brennan is serious about promoting the G.A.A. to an International arena then why doesn't he seek out the Irish exiles across the world and arrange some form of tournament amongst them all, it would be much better than the present scenario and might also ensure that top class players such as Martin Clarke (Down) Tadgh Kennelly (Kerry) Colm Begley (Laois) and Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpin (Cork) remain at home and help their respective counties to win Provincial and All Ireland honours. There are many other young prospects that have also made the trip down under in search of fame and fortune but never ever make it to the big time and are left on the scrap heap. The time has come to call a halt to this so called International series, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte made a suggestion a few years ago that the G.A.A. should attempt to get our games involved as part of a showpiece for the Olympics, he has a point and one well worth looking into!
Glenelly referee Liam Furey took charge of the recent Tyrone Grade Two Under 14 League Final last Wednesday evening at Carrickmore with Galbally defeating their neighbours Pomeroy in the decider.
Ádh Mór to the minor footballers of Urney and Clann na nGael who have important minor championship semi-finals against Augher and Stewartstown respectively next Wednesday night.
Glenelly will play Brackaville in the opening round of the WJ Dolan Tyrone Junior Football Championship at Kildress next Tuesday night.
The only games in the O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone All County Leagues this weekend will see the senior and reserve footballers of Strabane Sigersons make the short journey to play North Tyrone neighbours Castlederg St Eugene's at Marius McHugh Memorial Park, tomorrow night (Friday).
Whilst most of the spotlight will be on the senior and minor footballers of Tyrone this weekend, the Tyrone senior hurlers also have an important date when they travel to play Sligo in the quarter-finals of the Nicky Rackard Cup. Several Strabane Shamrock's hurlers will be involved with the team.
The WJ Dolan Tyrone Intermediate and Junior Football Championships will get underway next week with a number of local teams taking part. Full previews of all the games next week.
Glenelly Rockin' by the River Festival
The annual Rockin' by the River Festival in Glenelly gets underway next Monday 21st July with a host of events to suit all the family.
The events get underway on Monday with a Sperrin ramble and will continue throughout the week with Disco's, Bingo, Live Music in the dome, vintage machinery, dog, sheep and cattle shows and a massive family fun day on the closing day Sunday 27th July.
There will be a host of other events including a youth G.A.A. tournament and the Glenelly club are to be warmly applauded for their big community effort in organising a packed programme of events that caters for all sections of the community.
Well worth paying a visit to.
