NICKEY RACKARD CUP FINAL

Tyrone v Roscommon

Saturday, Croke Park, 3pm

By Alan Rodgers

AN UNRIVALLED level of consistency has brought the Tyrone hurlers back to Croke Park where the Nickey Rackard Cup title is the final major prize beckoning them this weekend.

It has been a remarkable season to date for the Red Hands. Their unbeaten run in the National League in March culminated in them winning the title and a special moment for the team captain, Conor Grogan from Carrickmore.

He ledd by example throughout that National League and has carried his form into the championship. Now, though, there’s more glory beckoning and a golden opportunity to move up to the Christy Ring ranks for the first time.

Tyrone have enjoyed some memorable days in Croke Park during the past decade. Grogan is relishing this latest one on the back of a season to date that has certainly seen them make impressive strides forward.

“It was good to get over the line last weekend and go back into the Nickey Rackard. At the start of the year we targeted returning to the Nickey Rackard final as a priority and thankfully the lads have achieved that,” he said.

“Our only loss this year has been against Roscommon and we went down definitely intent on beating them. On the day they beat us and the better team won, so we knew that the game against Donegal was the last chance saloon.

“The players regrouped last week and got set up again and went out and did the job. We’ve been steadily improving this year and in fairness to the management team they’ve put us through a pretty tough pre-season which has stood to us.

“The players coming off the bench have also made a difference for us, and the team has changed for every match so far this year. It’s a testament to the work that the whole team has been putting in.”

Of course, that National League success, which included a brilliant run during March, is viewed as critical. Tyrone have been targeting promotion for a number of seasons, so there was a real sense of delight and satisfaction when victory over Armagh in the final at Owenbeg was secured.

It also marked the high point to date of their steady progress. Now in his second season in charge, Michael McShane and the backroom team have been moulding and shaping a Red Hand side which has reflected that work in its performances. The evolution of the side is plain to be seen as a result.

“This year we’ve had a full pre-season under our belts which has helped, and it’s also the management’s second year in charge. We’re getting used to the systems and we’re definitely better organised. Winning the league was a big step, and it gave us a bit of belief that we can now go on and do well at the higher level. Donegal’s performances in Division 2B have given us great confidence for next year, but at the moment our full focus is on this weekend and Roscommon.

“It’s our third meeting this year, we met once in the league and then in the Nickey Rackard. But this is the one that matters. We’ve a lot of work to do to overcome the 12-point deficit from the last day and get ready for Saturday.

“The experience of last year’s final should stand to us. Maybe the occasion got to us a bit last year although Mayo were the better side. They were a few years further down the road, and hopefully that experience will stand to us.”

At a wider level, of course, this latest Croke Park experience for the hurlers is certain to further boost the profile of the game within Tyrone. It’s an element of this that isn’t lost on Grogan and the rest of the players as they prepare for this crucial tie.

“You need a strong and competitive underage leagues. Omagh are making good strides and it’s important that they do because it’s the largest town in Tyrone. But the work is being done in the other underage clubs as well.

“One of two players from every club are needed to keep pushing on. The fact that ourselves, Naomh Colum Cile and Dungannon have their own pitches is also important and every day you’re seeing more and more young people out playing hurling and camogie. Underage numbers are growing.

“We are in a football-dominated county and you need strong hurling people driving things on. Players coming up will want to be joining a team that has a good set-up and doing well. A county lifestyle isn’t easy and it’s essentially six days a week with gym work and training at Garvaghey as well as matches.

“But everyone has totally bought into the set-up. This is my sixth final to be played in Croke Park, but it’s no good if you don’t get the win. All we want is to come up the road with the cup.”