The players will bounce back says Tyrone U20 coach Connor O’Donnell

By Alan Rodgers

A RARE All-Ireland Final defeat at U20 level for Tyrone is unlikely to detract too much from the main task in hand for the players involved, as they bid to maintain the progress of their burgeoning inter-county careers in the years ahead.

It was something of a shock to the Red Hands system as Kerry came from eight points in arrears to outscore their old rivals so decisively in the remainder of Saturday’s decider at Croke Park.

The result proved disappointing for Paul Devlin and the players, ending the county’s hopes of a third consecutive national title at this level.

Tyrone were bidding for an eighth title at this level to go alongside their previous triumphs in 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But instead their 2026 outcome goes with 1990 as a disappointing loss at the final hurdle.

But as selector, Connor O’Donnell said this game is simply ‘a step along the way of footballing careers’ which have real potential to be realised as they progress.

“This has been a memorable season despite the ultimate defeat, and we still have the silverware there from winning the Ulster title,” said the Omagh clubman. “It is a tough loss to take when you come to the biggest stage here down at Croke Park, and we started well in the first 15-20 minutes and then faded away as Kerry, to be fair to them, put their stamp on the game.

“The boys are all very disappointed by the result and you have to feel for them. That’s football and it’s how things go sometimes. All the players are still young and they will bounce back. But you get these lessons in life and it’s all about how you learn from them.

“All the better players will learn, push on and develop,” he added. “That’s what the lads are going to have to face, and some of them will push on to senior. But this is a harsh lesson to learn and at the end of the day that’s the way football goes.”

Three All-Ireland titles since the start of this decade speaks volumes about Tyrone’s competitiveness at U-20 level. It is a record which highlights the county’s prowess and potential, as both the 2026 class and those previous panels of 2022, 2024 and 2025 continue their development into the top level.

There is a strong desire to progress, and it will be one that drives these players on when the pain of defeat from Saturday’s clash finally eases in the days, weeks and months ahead. For them, the future is brimming with potential no matter their ultimate journey.

“We were coming down here having beaten Kerry at underage football in the back of our minds. But then you were also thinking that maybe they were due one, and it’s just a pity that we weren’t able to put together 60 minutes of football to win this,” added O’Donnell.

“Fair play to Kerry, they were very good around midfield and that gave them a platform to win. They were deserving winners on the day, and in the second half they got an even greater foothold at midfield. That’s the harsh reality of how football matches go.

“The players have shown good resilience throughout this year and it is about bouncing back,” he added. “We will be expecting them to come back. They will be hurting for a period, and Tyrone will keep coming. It has been a great year overall and the moments are sweet to have.

“But we came to win the All-Ireland and unfortunately we didn’t do that.”