Persistence the key for making the step to senior says u-20 coach O’Neill

By Michael McMullan

FORMER Tyrone attacking star Stephen O’Neill insists players need both persistence and determination to make the cut at county senior level.

O’Neill won All-Ireland medals at all levels as a player and was brought on board as coach with the u-20’s this season by Paul Devlin.

Speaking to Gaelic Life after Wednesday’s u-20 final win over Monaghan, O’Neill was also full of praise for the grit the side demonstrated on their way to a third successive title.

After losing to Cavan and Armagh in the group stages, the Red Hands finished in third place.

It took them into away knock-out games with Derry and Donegal; encounters they won by digging victory out from the jaws of defeat.

Tyrone captain Devlin drawing on three years of u-20 experience

“They’re a great bunch of lads to work with,” O’Neill said. “They have great belief in themselves, they have their work ethic, they’re very humble and they really do put the shoulder to the wheel.

“They want to wear that jersey with pride and over those last three performances they have done that. I just hope now they can carry that on.”

O’Neill spoke of the county’s proud footballing tradition and hopes the continued success will inspire others get on the pathway of u-17 and u-20, with the view of pulling on a Tyrone senior jersey.

Tyrone trailed Wednesday’s final as Monaghan shot into a 0-6 to 0-1 before the Red Hands began to break even at midfield.

Goals from Shea McDermott, Aodhán Quinn and Conor Devlin shot them into a 3-11 to 0-11 lead.

A hallmark of the Tyrone approach was their kicking game into space. Wing forwards Turlough Muldoon and Conall Sheehy worked their socks off to create space. Their link play through midfield was impressive. Leo Hughes also dropped back to help the play from back to front.

There was also an inside trio of Peter Colton, Adrian McGurren and Shea McDermott who hit a combined 1-10. Incidentally all of Tyrone’s 4-19 tally came from play.

“It’s just a different type of game,” O’Neill said of Tyrone’s movement of the ball. “Monaghan played a bit more like ourselves, where they go and attack a bit more. Derry and Donegal are very defensive, very organised defensively and get back very quickly.

Perfect mix

“You have to be able to defend, you have to be able to attack and we have a good mix of lads who can do both,” he added.

It’s a third Ulster title on the trot and Tyrone now put their All-Ireland title on the line against Louth or Kildare who have yet to meet in the Leinster final.

Beyond that, Tyrone fans will hope a third swathe of u-20 players will filter into the senior ranks.

As someone who has walked in those shoes, O’Neill is well placed to know what they face.

“At 19 or 20 years of age you’re still very young and it’s very, very hard,” he said. “There are very few players that just step straight from 20 years of age into being an established senior player.

“It takes an extra level of commitment to bridge that gap. The game at that level is that bit faster and players that bit stronger.

“You need real persistence and determination to make it at that level. Hopefully, with the success Tyrone’s had over the last three or four years, we can eventually start to see that maybe coming through.

“You might get knockback, you may not get on, you stick at it and your chances will come. Hopefully more of that will come through now from the previous couple of teams.”