Tyrone management have decision to make

TYRONE fans are set to receive clarity in the coming week on the subject of who will manage their senior intercounty footballers in 2025.

There has been considerable uncertainty surrounding the future of Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan at the helm since Tyrone bowed out of the championship with a surprise defeat to Roscommon at the All-Ireland preliminary round stage.

While Logan and Dooher have two years left on their contract, another member of the manager team – coach Joe McMahon – revealed in a recent interview that they are yet to make a decision about their plans for 2025.

Gaelic Life understands that a review meeting will be held with the Tyrone County Board next week, which should clear up whether they have the appetite to go again next year.

Logan and Dooher steered the county to All-Ireland honours in their first season in charge (2021) but their subsequent years at the helm have been characterised by inconsistency, particularly in championship football.

That aside, there is plenty of talent in the county and they have won two of the last three All-Ireland U-20 titles, so it’ll be interesting to see who will be tasked with bringing through the new generation of Tyrone footballer in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Tyrone LFGA are seeking applicants for the position of senior manager following Sunday’s All-Ireland Intermediate final defeat to Leitrim.

The Red Hands lost out by a single point to the Connacht outfit at Croke Park with their spirited late fightback ultimately proving insufficient on the day.

Defeat also officially marked the end of Sean O’Kane’s three-year term in charge of the side and Tyrone LGFA thanked him for his services when advertising the post on Monday night.

However, it isn’t necessarily the end of the line for O’Kane, as he has the option to reapply for the post.

Indeed, when Tyrone won All-Ireland Intermediate honours back in 2018, then manager Gerry Moane’s position was up for grabs as his contract had expired. He reapplied for the post and stayed in charge for a further two years.

In the wake of Sunday’s disappointing defeat, O’Kane suggested that his time as manager had come to an end.

“At the end of the day we are in Division One next year and whoever is in charge, because my time is up, they will find this year has been a big help to prepare for the next Intermediate Championship,” O’Kane stated afterwards,

Time will tell whether the Strabane native will row back on that statement and throw his hat in the ring for another stint, but whoever leads the team will feel that they have the potential to build on the achievements of 2024, reaching two national finals and clinching promotion to the top flight.