By Shaun Casey

THE wave of fresh talent flying through the underage setup in Tyrone should leave the senior squad competing for the top prizes, so former Red Hand player and manager Feargal Logan is “hopeful and optimistic” for the future.

Tyrone are the reigning All-Ireland U-20 champions and have collected three titles in the last four years. They also earned a All-Ireland Minor title in 2025, thanks to a one-point victory over Kerry.

Logan, who led his county to the Sam Maguire Cup alongside Brian Dooher in 2021, believes it could take time for the talented youngsters to make their mark in Malachy O’Rourke’s senior setup.

“The youth structures and the success has been outstanding in Tyrone,” said Logan, who will manage both Queen’s University Belfast and Donaghmore in the 2026 season.

“You would expect that there’s a number of players coming up the chain here who will turn up big for Tyrone seniors. Does it need a wee bit of time? It might do.

“But those two u-20 All-Ireland wins, the minor All-Ireland wins, albeit they’re all a year younger at 20 and 17, you’d like to think that the future is bright.

“There’s a right bit of work to be done and a right bit of football maturing to be done, but we’d all be hopeful and optimistic.”

Tyrone will take on Armagh in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship, and the O’Neill County haven’t held the Anglo Celt since 2021, when Logan was boss, and he’s expecting an incredibly competitive competition once again next year.

“A rising tide lifts all ships,” he added. “Ulster in the early ‘90s bubbled up together. ’95 is a deep regret obviously, but the more Ulster teams that are doing well, the better. It rises the competition so there’s a challenge there for everybody.

“Armagh hit the jackpot (in 2024), Down are coming, Derry are wondering what happened (in the last few years). Donegal, we’ve seen them in the last year or two, so before you get out of Ulster, there’s plenty to contend with.”

On the national stage, Logan believes Jack O’Connor’s Kerry remain the team to beat and fancies them to retain their All-Ireland crown but insists there’s plenty of challenges for the throne.

“You’re not going to look past Kerry,” he added. “Any team with David Clifford in it is going to be serious. The Dubs are going to be an interesting watch; Galway have been very close and will probably be regretful that they haven’t nailed it.

“Mayo, I’m not sure what went on with Kevin McStay there but what happened, it’s unfortunate. They have a new episode starting now and Mayo will want to be back at the top table as well.

“It’s all very interesting. Cork have a lot going on, Meath obviously have a lot coming through and will be keen to build on last year so it’s a very competitive industry.”