AS the Tyrone senior ladies prepare for a return to National Football League action later this month, new manager Kevin McCrystal will have to plan without two key defenders.

Drumragh’s Neamh Woods, who captained the team to the All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2018, picked up a freak injury on her first night back with her club while Slaine McCarroll from St Macartan’s is still on the road to recovery after an injury that led to early year surgery.

McCrystal, who took over the role from Gerry Moane, had his first full squad training session last week at Garvaghey and there was an air of disappointment within the camp over the injured duo.

“The girls are likely to miss the league. Slaine has been working away since picking up an injury last year.

“She is making steady progress while Neamh picked up the knock on her first night back, she was very unlucky.”