Tyrone will have to find a means of breaking the defensive code of many well organised teams in the year ahead, and Niall Sludden was grateful for a stiff test set by Ulster University.
The students arrived at Healy Park on Sunday with their homework done, and proceeded to stifle the Ulster giants with a packed rearguard and an effective counter-attacking plan.
It posed serious problems for the Red Hands, not to mention untold frustration as they struggled to negotiate a path through to goal.
And Sludden voiced his appreciation for the resistance shown by the Jordanstown side.
Tyrone finally wore their opponents down to strike for the scores that earned them an eight points McKenna Cup win.
In Pictures: Tyrone v Ulster University
“Ulster University gave us a good test defensively and breaking that down is never that easy. In the last 15 minutes we got a few fresh legs from the bench and started to open them up,” he said.
“Even club teams are very organised and they set up very defensively. It can be very tricky and you just have to keep chipping away
“It was great to get that sort of challenge, because most teams set up defensively against you nowadays.
“I thought in the second half, one we got into our rhythm, we could have added a few more goals. We had plenty of chances, so we have a lot to work with there.
“The league is such an early start, and what a test we have against Kerry in the first game.”
A draw will be enough from tomorrow’s clash with Fermanagh to earn Tyrone a place in the semi-finals, and despite the Erne side’s impending exit from the competition, Sludden expects a tough test.
“We've had two wins out of two and hopefully we can finish with a third on Wednesday night. Fermanagh will be a tough test and I know that Ricey will have them well up for it.
“Our confidence is good after getting two good scoring totals. That's very important in the modern game and you have to be clinical. If not you’re going to get punished.
“Fermanagh is a big test, they'll relish playing Tyrone and I'll personally relish playing them.”
With fresh talent making an impact in the pre-season competition, Tyrone look set to grow stronger in 2019, and a large squad is set to be cut by manager Mickey Harte before the end of the month.
“It's great to see a lot of the younger boys stepping up in this McKenna Cup, but there's also the older players looking for action as well. We had 23 togged out, there's 43 in the panel and all that adds up. There’s big competition and there's a challenge to stay on your toes which is the way it has to be.”
“We’re all on our toes, there’s new boys coming in and there’s others coming back from injury.
“I think it's good that we all have to up our game. Everybody has had a good break, and this game was a useful run-out. I thought we were a bit rusty in the first half, and then got going in the second half. There's a lot to work with.
“Matches like this are great for giving everyone game-time. The early start to the National League means that there's no room for resting too much.”
The impact of the experimental rules has waned since the opening day of the competition, as players build a familiarity with the hand-pass restriction, with just one infraction in Sunday’s clash of Tyrone and UU.
“I thought things worked better today and a lot of the teams are maybe just kicking the ball which speeds things up and means that you don't have to be counting the passes. It’s difficult to play with, but it did get a bit easier,” said Sludden.
