Tyrone star O’Neill set for swift return

By Niall Gartland

TYRONE forward Ronan O’Neill is in contention to make a swift return to the field of play after being taken off with a suspected hamstring injury in Omagh St Enda’s defeat to Coalisland on Sunday afternoon.

O’Neill informed Omagh boss Carl McCabe on Tuesday that it’s nothing more serious than muscle tightness and therefore he could be in contention to play in Sunday’s All-County League match against Donaghmore.

O’Neill, who returned to the Tyrone camp this season after opting out following last year’s national football league campaign, is in good form at the moment so both Mickey Harte and McCabe will be pleased by the innocuous nature of the injury.

He shot the lights out in Omagh’s opening league match a fortnight ago, scoring 1-5 in Omagh’s narrow victory over Dromore before he was taken off in their 2-13 to 0-9 defeat to Coalisland.

All in all it means that Mickey Harte has practically a clean bill of health ahead of Tyrone’s Championship opener against Donegal on either October 31 or November 1.

Mattie Donnelly, who sustained a serious leg injury while playing in Trillick’s Ulster Championship clash against Derrygonnelly late last year, came through his first game in eight months when he lined out for his club a fortnight ago, while it’s expected that Cathal McShane will also recover from a long-term ankle injury in time for the intercounty season.

Another Tyrone star, Coalisland’s Padraig Hampsey, also had to go off with hamstring concerns against Omagh but it’s also been confirmed that it isn’t a high-grade injury.

It’s been a tough week for Omagh St Enda’s off the pitch following the death of Monica Gallagher on Sunday.

She has three sons – Hugh, Michael and Turlough – who play for the senior team. Her funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday).