Sport

Mickey Harte handed new three-year term as Tyrone manager

Mickey Harte was given a three-year term by the Tyrone County Board on Tuesday evening
Mickey Harte was given a three-year term by the Tyrone County Board on Tuesday evening Mickey Harte was given a three-year term by the Tyrone County Board on Tuesday evening

MICKEY HARTE has been reappointed as Tyrone senior football manager for a 16th season, ending speculation that his reign was about to come to an end.

Harte was handed a three-year term at a meeting of the county executive after clubs voted in favour of holding on to the long-serving boss.

The Errigal Ciaran man has guided the county to Sam Maguire Cup success on three occasions, but the Red Hands have failed to reach an All-Ireland final since their most recent triumph in 2008.

A year ago, his request for a two-year term was turned down, and Harte was reappointed for just one season, which came to an end on the day that Tyrone made their exit from the All-Ireland series at the hands of Dublin last month.

Pressure on the manager appeared to intensify due to the severity of that 12-point defeat, the heaviest Tyrone have suffered during his tenure.

But Harte insisted in the immediate aftermath at Croke Park that he intended to continue as manager.

He will begin the 2018 season as the game’s longest serving manager, when his initial target will be the retention of the Ulster SFC title for a third successive season.

He took over late in 2002 and led the county to its first All-Ireland title in his debut season, adding further Sam Maguire Cup triumphs in 2005 and ‘08.

The last remaining link with the 2003 maiden success has been severed with the recent retirement of Sean Cavanagh, and only a handful of players with All-Ireland medals remain in the squad.