MICKEY HARTE is viewing next year’s McKenna Cup campaign as a perfect chance to continue this season’s progress and further integrate Tyrone’s new generation of players.
Speaking at Tuesday night’s launch of the competition, which gets underway on January 3, the long-standing Tyrone manager is targeting a fifth consecutive McKenna Cup title - and a ninth since his appointment late in 2002.
Standing in their way of a semi-final spot are Queen’s University, Antrim and a Derry side with which Tyrone will be well-acquainted by the time next year’s Ulster Championship quarter-final clash comes around - they are also scheduled to meet their fierce rivals in December 13’s Ó Fiaich Cup semi-final and Division Two of next year's National League.
The Red Hands will likely be without the services of some of their more established players in the McKenna Cup, including Allstar nominess Ronan McNamee, Ronan McNabb and Colm Cavanagh.
Yet Harte won’t be short of options either, as he has called up seven newcomers to his panel, including this year’s All-Ireland U21 winning captain Kieran McGeary. The triple All-Ireland senior winning boss intends to review his squad before the National League, but the new contingent will have every chance to stake their claim.
Harte said: “The thing about the McKenna Cup is that you’re sure of three matches but, really, if you want to make the best of January you want to be looking for a fourth and fifth match.
“It was always our ambition to be in the competition as long as possible and that meant trying to get to the final every year. We’ve managed quite a few years and 2016 will be no different. We’ll do the best we can to give ourselves a chance of getting into the semi-final and, ultimately, we’d like to be in another final.
He added: “We’ve a number of new lads and they’re preparing with Peter Donnelly at the minute to get themselves ready for the new season.
“Ronan McNamee had an operation on his ankle, Ronan McNabb’s out, Joe McMahon and Niall McKenna are still recovering from injury and Colm Cavanagh’s having his honeymoon in the first few weeks of January. So there are a number of players unavailable, but that’ll facilitate giving game time to the new boys - we’re looking forward to that, seeing how we can blend them in with our seasoned campaigners.”
Harte also reports that Peter Hughes has left the Tyrone panel due to work commitments and Strabane clubman Danny McBride has also dropped out.
Expectations are high in the county after an unexpected run to this season’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry and Harte claims further progress is difficult, but not impossible.
“It’s got two angles to it - it’s good that it raises the expectation of what Tyrone might be able to do, but it also gives us challenge of having to rise to that level again," he said.
“On reflection, as the season ended, compared to where it began, you’d have to say it was, to a degree, satisfactory, but to build on that is a tall order - you’d almost need to be in an All-Ireland final. The players do know that if they play to their full potential they’re a match for anyone on any given day and, when players know that, then anything’s possible.”
