Harte still going strong for Errigal

By Niall Gartland

PETER Harte was in his element. Guile, finesse, precision kick-passing – and what about that magnificent two-pointer as Errigal Ciaran made their move in the first half of Sunday’s Tyrone Senior Championship semi-final showdown against Loughmacrory.

The Errigal Ciaran captain is the first to acknowledge he’s in the twilight of his playing career, but one thing is for sure – he remains an elite-level performer and on Sunday week he’ll go in search of a fourth Senior Championship medal with his club, 14 years after pocketing his first.

This season has taken on a different dynamic right from the start. After an uninterrupted Tyrone career stretching back to the 2010 McKenna Cup, Harte decided the time was right to take a step back.

“It’s different when you’re playing with Tyrone. You have to balance yourself. The first half of the year you’re with Tyrone and that’s the only way to do it, and then you go back to your club.

“This year it’s a wee bit different. You can pace yourself a wee bit better. I’ve just been very lucky to be injury-free. Football is much more enjoyable when you’re injury-free and, please God, I can stay that way leading up to the final.

“I’m getting there [in terms of age], but it means you appreciate every game. There are fewer games coming my way than there were before.”

Standing in their way of the O’Neill Cup is an Edendork side who have already made history by qualifying for their first ever Senior Championship final.

Harte makes the argument that the quality of underage football in Tyrone is a contributing factor to teams staking their claim in the championship arena. Indeed, some of Errigal’s best performers at present – Shea McDermott, Aodhan Quinn and Ronan O’Sullivan – are still in the very early stages of their club careers.

“You see the quality of the conveyor belt – the minors, the U20s, the Hogan Cup-winning teams. Every team is getting two, three or four lads in year on year. Fionn Devlin, Correy Bell – they’re coming in flying fit for Edendork.

“Sometimes it requires a bit of luck, players being fit at the right time, and we’ve been lucky to get a few boys back ourselves.

“But again, we’re really lucky – we have young lads who have worked with Paul Devlin and ‘Riise’ [Diarmaid McNulty], who have coached them really well. I find boys can adapt so quickly. Their skill sets are so high, and you saw that with Loughmacrory as well. The young boys on both sides were some of the best performers on the field.”

Errigal Ciaran have been hugely impressive en route to the final, though Loughmacrory roared back into proceedings in last Sunday’s semi-final in front of a huge attendance at Carrickmore. Harte was delighted that they held on to book their spot in the county final and now they stand 60 minutes away from a third title in five years.

“Any year you’re beating Killyclogher, Trillick and Loughmacrory, you know you’re doing something right because they’re serious teams. We had a really tough draw and it doesn’t get any easier. Look at Edendork and the form Dazzler, Conn and Morgan are in.

“Momentum is massive and we’re lucky to come through the Loughmacrory game. Oisin [O’Kane] struck over a two-pointer late on and then they got a penalty. A free dropped in right at the end and we came out with it. It’s happened before where we conceded a goal and it was lights out, and that’s Tyrone Championship football for you. It comes down to a kick of the ball and I’ve no doubt the final will be the same.”