Football

Tyrone 'veteran' Peter Harte is still very much in the game

Peter Harte in action for Tyrone in the Ulster SFC semi-final replay against Cavan this summer <br />Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Peter Harte in action for Tyrone in the Ulster SFC semi-final replay against Cavan this summer
Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Peter Harte in action for Tyrone in the Ulster SFC semi-final replay against Cavan this summer
Picture by Colm O'Reilly

PETER HARTE may have been bizarrely labelled as a ‘veteran’ in the Allstars match programme, but he does appreciate being a little bit older than some of his Tyrone colleagues.

At the ripe old age of 26, he was fresh enough to play the full game in the Inter-pros (Railway Cup) Football final as Ulster took the trophy back off Connacht in Leitrim on Saturday, then come off the bench for Tyrone during the first half of their Ó Fiaich Cup final defeat by Armagh last  Sunday.

Harte accepts his age is a factor, saying: “That’s part of it. Some of the boys from 17 to 21 are playing minor football, schools football, college football, county football - it’s unbelievable.

“It’s probably a nicer time of your career when you’re in your mid-20s and it’s just your club and your county. It’s more manageable.”

Harte was happy to add province to that list and to regain the Railway Cup in memory of the long-serving Ulster GAA secretary who passed away earlier this month, saying: “It was nice to win it and to do it for Danny Murphy.”

He enjoyed the whole experience of the inter-pros, playing with rather than against traditional rivals, such as men from neighbouring counties Armagh and Fermanagh who scored Ulster’s goals in Carrick-on-Shannon: 

“Charlie Vernon and Aidan Breen were probably the best players. It’s great to play with those boys and see them playing well, be part of the same team.”

Yet despite being willing to line out in December, Harte accepts that an earlier date might help the ailing competition’s profile: “As far as players are concerned, we’d love the Railway Cup to stay for the foreseeable future.

“People have touched on this before - getting the timing right in the calendar and then giving it a bit more marketing would probably help out.”

The timing of the Ó Fiaich Cup is a double-edged sword, good for those trying to make a breakthrough but harder for players with more miles on the clock, as Harte acknowledges.

He was one of the few experienced men to feature for the Red Hands against Armagh, but he understands why that’s the case: “If you’re not testing [younger players] out now, Division One of the National League is not an easy place to play, or the Championship later on in the year.

Of course this is the time to do it and boys just have to do it. Mickey [Harte] says that, no matter what time of year it is, you have got to take your chance.

“At this time of the year there are a lot of boys who have had long club seasons, picking up niggles, boys just need a bit of rest at this time of year. You play the hand you’re dealt.

“I’m just privileged, a lucky man to be healthy and fit and able to play. As long as that’s the way I am, I’ll be out playing - please God, that’s the way for the foreseeable future.

“I’m in a very fortunate position to be able to play football and to be injury-free. When the opportunity is there to play for your club, your county, your province, it’s great to be part of.”

The only downside of his weekend was defeat to Armagh, but ‘Petey’ still took positives from the outing in Crossmaglen, especially the hard-hitting nature of some of the exchanges.

“What else would you expect from a Tyrone-Armagh game, no matter what time of year? I’d say both teams were happy knowing they’d got a good 70-minute match under their belts.

“It’s disappointing [to lose] but I’m sure both teams will go away happy with a game like that this side of Christmas. I think that will stand both teams in good stead for the upcoming McKenna Cup and National League - and there’s plenty to learn from it.

"I know Mickey will come away disappointed at losing, obviously, but we have plenty of things to work on after Christmas.”