ULSTER MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1

Tyrone v Cavan

Saturday, O’Neill’s Healy Park, 6pm

By Alan Rodgers

SUCCESS in the recent Ulster Minor League has set Tyrone up perfectly for the challenges to come during a championship campaign that will see them bid to retain their provincial title.

Last year, of course, the young Red Hands reached the All-Ireland final, only to lose to Meath at Croke Park. More of the same would do nicely indeed for the current panel, which includes only a handful of players who were also part of that 2021 team.

Under the management once again of Gerard Donnelly, Tyrone climaxed a good league campaign by defeating Derry in the decider at Glen to lift the Jim McGuigan Cup.

But both the players and management will be expecting things to be a lot tougher as the knock-out competition begins.

Cavan have been making impressive strides at underage level for a decade now and will come to Healy Park anxious to cause an upset. The threat posed by them will be foremost in the minds of Tyrone.

But for these young players the chance to represent their county in championship action is an honour and reward for their dedication to training as part of development squads during the past few years. For many, this Saturday will also be a notable milestone.

They include Galbally player, Sean Hughes. He impressed in the win over Derry a few weeks ago, forging forward from the defence with purpose and also getting on the scoresheet and he’s definitely looking forward to this latest challenge.

“We had a good campaign in the league and it has all about getting ready for Cavan in the championship,” he said.

“I wasn’t on the panel last year, but it’s good to come in this year with the players who were there. The management have all done well and have the experience of last year and getting to the All-Ireland final.

“There’s a few of the players from last year as well and they’ve been a big help taking us new lads under their wings and giving us advice.

“Cavan are in the u-20 final as well and they looked strong in the B side of the Ulster Minor league. They’ve had a few tight games and will be a good tester for us. But the game against Derry was really good for us as well.”

The motivation for Tyrone is clear as they enter this game. Win and the prospect of a prolonged run in the competition is within reach, but a defeat would end their campaign as there is no backdoor of qualifier system until the provincial final stage.

As a result, there will be a big determination to make the most of this opportunity.

“Everybody is fighting for position on the team at the moment,” Hughes added.

“We’ve had 36 on the panel and everybody has to be battling with no slacking off. But it’s great for both myself and the club to be representing the county.”