By Barry O'Donnell
THE potent blend of youth and experience which ensured an explosive start to the new year for Tyrone is set to be trialled right through the course of January, as the in-house battle for permanent spots in the county squad provides an intriguing sub-plot during this Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup run.
Whatever the outcome of last night's contest against Donegal in Ballybofey, the Red Hands opening day sixteen-point thumping of St Mary's College means that scoring aggregate alone should ensure that Mickey Harte's charges progress to the semi-finals of the competition with a victory over Cavan in their final group match this Saturday evening in Omagh.
The voracity, intent and enthusiasm with which Tyrone went about their business against the outclassed students underlined their desire to get back into the competitive fray again, and with twelve different names helping to wrack up their twenty-six scores, the attacking threat came from all angles and sources.
The defence though, in a more understated fashion, also enjoyed an impressive outing. While marauding attackers such as Kyle Coney and Brian McGuigan were hogging the headlines for their scoring exploits, the likes of Martin Swift at the back got on with their task in an efficient, organised manner.
St Mary's attacking ace Conor McGourty had ripped Tyrone to shreds when the teams clashed at the corresponding stage of the competition twelve months ago, but this time his influence was minimal thanks in no small part to the adhesive qualities of the Killyclogher man.
Swift, who ventured up the field to tag on a point himself was understandably satisfied with how the afternoon panned out, though down playing his own contribution.
" I was happy enough with how it went. It was a tough game on a heavy pitch. St Mary's were a very fit team. It was tough, there was a lot of space there for him (McGourty), with them dropping men back. He's a good player and got away a couple of times but in the main we did okay on him."
" We scored well enough which was pleasing, especially with having a lot
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of different scorers, though we let them score a couple of soft ones at the end. Maybe we were tiring a bit. We'd need to cut that out in the next few matches."
A mainstay of the senior set up for several years now, Swift and the more established campaigners have been joined in the ranks by some exciting young rookies keen to make their mark. He is suitably impressed by what they've shown so far.
" A lot of the new boys stepping up to the plate are very good. They're working hard and doing very well. The football has been bred into them and they've a great attitude. They're going to be good players, they come from good footballing stock if you look at their families. They know all about success on the football field.
"There's forty-seven on the panel right now and everybody has to try their best to keep their place. There'll be around a dozen dropped down the line so everyone is working hard to stay in there. There's boys out injured at the minute but the new lads have come in and are keen to get a spot so we are all battling for places."
If Tyrone accounted for Donegal on Wednesday night then they are almost certain to be back in action next midweek in the McKenna Cup semi-final.
