By Alan Rodgers

TYRONE’S top GAA stadium is to be renamed O’Neills Healy Park in a major deal with the sportswear company – believed to be in the region of £250,000 over the next five years.

Officials from the club joined with Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning captain, Peter Canavan, in announcing the move yesterday (Wednesday).

It comes as the 18,000 capacity venue prepares to host Tyrone’s opening clash of the 2021 season against Donegal on Saturday evening in the National League.

Since its opening in 1972, Healy Park has been owned by the Omagh, St Enda’s club and was officially named after local man and former official and player, Michael Healy, in 1980.

It will now be officially known as ‘O’Neills Healy Park.’

Club chairman Conor Sally said the decision to re-name the historic ground was taken in agreement with club members and the Healy family.

“This is another step in the development of the club and Gaelic games in the town. Our main aim was to ensure Healy was retained and the link-up with O’Neills is a perfect fit with a company providing employment across Tyrone,” he said.

“Our committee discussed this initially and then with the Healy family, who gave their full support. We are confident that the deal is in the best interests of both parties and the unanimous view of the St Enda’s membership was to ensure that all the money raised from this will go back to the club in terms of coaching, infrastructure or development.”

Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning captain in 2003, Peter Canavan hopes that Healy Park will continue to develop as a fortress for the county’s teams at all levels.

He said, “This is a new departure and the ground will now be known as O’Neills Healy Park. When you talk to anyone across Ireland and even further afield, they know Healy Park as the home of Tyrone football and the brand of O’Neills is very much also associated with the county.

“The two link up very well.

“Hopefully O’Neills Healy Park will now become a fortress and teams from around the county will dread coming here.”

Kieran Kennedy, managing director of O’Neills International Sportswear, said the deal was an appropriate one for a firm and venue so closely associated with Tyrone.

“We have a long association with St Enda’s and Tyrone and are delighted that this link has now been taken onto a new level.

“The match between Healy Park and O’Neills is a good one,” Mr Kennedy continued. “The changes here have been incredible over the years. My father lived close to the ground when the pitch was being constructed and he would certainly be immensely proud to see how it has developed and continues to develop.”