By Alan Rodgers

A FIRST ever All-Ireland Final beckons for the Tyrone U-20 hurlers whose clash against Down this weekend will climax what has been an impressive season for the young Red Hands.

Victory over Wicklow at the penultimate stage a few weeks ago sealed the history-making progress for the side. It followed a series of earlier wins, including against Donegal and Mayo. But they will have to be on top form to defeat opponents highly fancied at this level.

The game is at Kingspan Breffni and the Tyrone team will include several members of the senior side who have been experiencing a series of tough matches in both the National League and Christy Ring Cup so far in 2025. Nevertheless, the presence of Francie Hurson, Aidan Woods, Fionn Corry, Corey Bell and others is one that will undoubtedly boost the prospects for the U-20 team.

Colm Morgan and Patrick O’Farrell from the Naomh Colum Cille club are the managers of the side. They have brought together a team comprising players from a range of different clubs, and Morgan is delighted with the progress that has been made so far.

“The boys really did well to beat Wicklow in the semi-final. It was a great win for them, and came after we had also defeated Mayo. We knew it was going to be tough because they had given us a lesson last year and all the lads produced a gritty display overall,” said Colm Morgan.

“There were some really good individual performances. The tackling, the blocking, the ruck-work and the desire to win the ball were all important factors and allowed us to get over the line. This is new territory for Tyrone hurlers to be in an All-Ireland U-20 final.

“One of the advantages that we’ve had is the fact that the players have got five or six competitive matches so far this year. Mayo and Wicklow were struggling to get games, whole we were in the Ulster Shield and got two good matches against Donegal and Armagh. Those game stood to us.”

Another important factor has, of course, been the relationship with the senior management, including Stephen McGarry. This has helped them to ensure that the training schedule for the players doubling up on both panels has been at the optimum level.

Tyrone have previously won All-Ireland titles at U-16 and Minor level,dating back to the eighties and including last year’s Celtic Challenge success. Now, the U-20s are presented with the chance to emulate those young age-groups.

But there is still no doubting Down’s strengths entering this final. The Mourne county have been successful at this level before, and the promotion achieved by their seniors to Division 1B means that hurling there is on a higher level overall than in Tyrone.

“We will see how good we are against a really strong county like Down who are good at schools level and have been playing Joe McDonagh hurling as well. It will be a test for us, but it’s one that we’re looking forward to.

“One of the features is the spread of clubs represented on the team. Carrickmore and Dungannon obviously dominate,but we’d be lost without the likes of the players from Omagh, Naomh Colum Cille and Fintona. They really add to the panel because in Tyrone there is a narrower base of players.

“Everyone has to show and you have to provide a pathway and this is important because it provides younger hurlers in Tyrone with that inspiration to emulate seeing this team playing in an All-Ireland Final.”