Coyle: Blend of youth and experience key for Pomeroy

By Niall Gartland

IT’S difficult to overstate how impressive Pomeroy were in their demolition of Derrylaughan in the Intermediate Championship quarter-finals, but they still have two big hurdles to surmount if they’re to land the championship title and promotion.

They take on neighbours Cookstown this Sunday evening at Dungannon in a contest that is ripe with potential, and both teams share similarities with their fluid attacking approach.

We spoke to Marty Coyle following Pomeroy’s win over Derrylaughan, and he was a real livewire in attack as they racked up 1-21. He wasn’t the only one who impressed up front either – Ronan Duffin and Frank Burns for example combined for a sum total of 13 points.

Citing their blend of youth and experience and in particular their two very prominent Tyrone footballers, Coyle said: “Frank [Burns] and Kieran [McGeary] bring so much experience to the team and we’re delighted to have them.

“ Their coaching know-how is brilliant, Kieran’s a former Footballer of the Year and they’re both Al-Ireland winners. Their motivational ability is next level as well. Then you have the younger boys like myself, Peter McGoldrick and Ryan McCallan, so there’s a good mixture.”

Pomeroy were on their guard ahead of their date with Derrylaughan, who won the Intermediate Championship two years ago. They played the game with ferocious intensity and fully deserved their 1-21 to 0-14 victory.

“We didn’t take them for granted, there was no complacency at all. They beat us in the first league game, so we were going to be relentless and not throw in the towel. We knew it was going to be a dogfight, they came down from Senior last year, just like us, so it was a good result.

“The Tyrone Championship can go either way. There are four good teams in the semi-final, and it’s all about what you do on the day. We’re just delighted to be there.”

Coyle also praised manager Brian Gormley, a renowned former Tyrone footballer with plenty of managerial experience to draw upon. For Gormley, work-rate is the big thing.

“Barney’s great to have on the line. He says as long as we put in the hard work and an honest effort, you’re going to be hard to stop.”