By Niall Gartland

SLEACHT NÉILL hurling manager Michael McShane is relieved that the club provincial championships will make their return this year – and said it would’ve been a bitter pill to swallow if GAA fixtures chiefs hadn’t found space for the competitions in their revised fixtures calendar, which was published last week.

McShane, who is juggling two roles at present as he was recently appointed as manager of the Tyrone hurlers, was disappointed that the Sleacht Néill hurlers weren’t able to defend their Ulster crown last season as the provincials were squeezed out.

This year, however, the provincial and All-Ireland Club Championships will be held at the end of the year, with the national finals taking place in February 2022.

While McShane isn’t getting ahead of himself, Sleacht Néill will be favourites to claim their ninth title in-a-row in Derry and in doing so qualify for the provincial series, which they won three times in the four years between 2016 and 2019.

“Speaking on behalf of Sleacht Néill, we were very disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to defend our Ulster title last year.

“We won’t look by anyone in Derry, we need to focus on that and win it, but if we’re good enough to get out of Derry, we’d be very keen to defend our crown and hopefully add another Ulster title to the roll of honour list.”

While it’s important for heavy-hitters like Sleacht Néill to have the opportunity to play on the biggest stages, McShane also said it was disappointing that newcomers to the scene, like Tyrone SFC champions Dungannon Clarke’s, didn’t get their chance of showing what they can do in Ulster.

“All the champions in football and hurling would look forward to getting the opportunity – looking back to last year, Dungannon won their first Tyrone Championship in 64 years and they weren’t able to have a crack at the provincial championship.

“I think it’s very important, we understood last year that circumstances were what they were, but I think it would’ve been a bitter pillow to swallow if they said they couldn’t run it again.

“There’ll be a lot of club champions chomping at the bit, and to deny that for a second year in-a-row would’ve been very disappointing so I’m delighted the commitment has been made.”

It was on the back of his club success that he was appointed to succeed Mattie Lennon as manager of the Tyrone hurlers – and while it’s early days, it sounds like the players are eager to impress the Ballycastle native.

“It’s difficult to assess things at the moment, but I have to say I’ve been very impressed by their application during lockdown. We’ve set them programmes and I’ve no doubt that when we get together, I’ll find that their fitness levels are good.

“We’ve had Zoom meetings and conversations over the phone as well, but we just need to get the hurl in the hand, it’s difficult to form an impression of that aspect until we’re able to train together in Garvaghey next week.”

“That said, I’ve had a look at all the games they’ve played over the last few years, and I’ve watched the Dungannon and Carrickmore teams in Tyrone Championship finals and in the Ulster Championship in recent years.

“I was actually pleasantly surprised with the age profile of the team, there’s a lot of lads who have come out of good Dungannon and Carrickmore minor teams. You need experienced lads around the panel, but you’ve got to work with the youth and that’s what I’m planning to do as we’re looking to build a team.”