BY ALAN RODGERS
NEW Tyrone joint managers Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher are hoping that the county’s two most experienced players will spearhead the 2021 bid for glory.
Team captain, Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte both played alongside the two-time All-Ireland winning skipper, Brian Dooher, a decade ago.
Now the youngsters of 2010 and 2011 have developed into the key players on a team that the new bosses will be hoping can reach their potential in the coming years and that the two will have a crucial role to play.
“Petey (Harte) was already playing before I finished and Mattie came as I was leaving,” said Dooher.
“They are phenomenal players and they’ve shown that over the past 10 years when they given exceptional service to Tyrone.
“I’m just hoping that they’re only getting going now because we’re going to need them two boys to lead from the front. They are great fellas and their record and how they carry themselves speaks for itself. They are outstanding individuals.”
Colin Holmes, who guided the Tyrone U-20s to All-Ireland glory in 2017, Peter Donnelly and former All-Ireland winner, Joe McMahon, have been confirmed as part of a strong backroom team to assist the new joint managers.
As they look to Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte to lead the renewed quest for Sam Maguire glory, the expectation is that there won’t be too many major changes in personnel as the two new managers settle into their three-year term.
“We have an age range that is fairly well distributed and the door is open. If we can see players who will add value and energy to this team, then we’ll not be holding them back and hopefully they’ll push us on,” added the Clann Na nGael clubman.
“I’m hoping that they’ll ask us questions as well and that we’ll have the answers for them because I’m sure they will.
“This team I fairly driven, they have high expectations of us and I just hope that we’re in a position to fulfil those expectations too.”
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