MATTIE DONNELLY says Tyrone need an Ulster title to add substance to the development of an exciting young team.
The Red Hands have not won the provincial crown since 2010 and have not appeared in a final in the past five years, but despite this have contested two All-Ireland finals in the past two seasons. Midfielder Donnelly pledged that a massive effort will be made in 2016 to get their hands on the Anglo-Celt Cup.
“We have a young batch of players, and the likes of myself and Petey [Harte] and Ronan McNabb, who are around the same age, we have had youth success, but we want silverware now really at senior level,” he said.
“I think all the tools are there and, having made great strides this year, we will be looking ultimately for something to show for it.”
The first priority, however, is to regain Division One status. Tyrone were relegated this season and the Trillick man believes it’s important they quickly get back to competing with the country’s top teams in the league.
“The first thing we need to do is to get Tyrone back in Division One, where we feel Tyrone football belongs," he added.
“Obviously, there’s going to be a lot of other teams that feel the same way in Division Two, so that’s not going to be an easy task.”
A young squad with an average age of 24 exceeded expectations by recovering from an early exit from the provincial championship to make it to the last four in the All-Ireland series, losing to Kerry in a game they could have won had they been more clinical in front of goal. Donnelly is excited by the potential of a talented group of players.
“The average age is 24, and that’s very young for a county panel, regarding experience and that," he said.
“But we have seen that the boys are good enough to play at that level and add something to it. That’s extremely encouraging, we know now that we’re good enough and confident enough and that gives ourselves great confidence.”
Youngsters Mark Bradley and Conor Meyler didn’t receive a call-up until after the conclusion of a triumphant All-Ireland U21 campaign, but left an indelible mark with a series of classy displays. And Donnelly is confident they will continue to improve and be joined by other emerging stars.
“They were with the U21s and didn’t see much of the senior training, so that makes it even more impressive, the way they came back in and how much they added to the thing," he said.
“They’ll get that preparation from the start next year and that will really stand to them. They know now what they need to do, what they need to work on and they’ll hit the ground running next season.”
Doubts remain over the futures of manager Mickey Harte and captain Seán Cavanagh, though. Harte has made it clear he wants to remain in charge, but Cavanagh has cast doubts over his availability for 2016. Donnelly wants to see both men return for at least another season.
“I couldn’t imagine playing under another manager than Mickey Harte at county level," he said.
“The hunger hasn’t diminished in any way and we would want him back. I was involved in the Ireland panel with Seán last year and you had leaders from all over the country, but the man who everyone looked up to was Seán Cavanagh. So that shows you how much of a presence and how much his name means in any room. Big Seán is worth his weight in gold.
“Being up against Seán closely in training and his contribution in the last few games, the man is still a phenomenal athlete. The way he trains, he’s just relentless in his training and that enables him to perform so highly at this stage of his career. I would have no doubt in saying that, if he maintains that workrate, big Seán could be around for another few years.
“With the help of God, Seán will be back next year in the Tyrone jersey, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be.”
