Football

Tyrone manager Paul Devlin: U20 squad primed for success

Eirgrid Ulster Under 20 Football Championship 2019 launch at Garvaghey: Fergal Keenan (left) from Eirgrid and Oliver Galligan (Ulster GAA president), with team captains from each county. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
Eirgrid Ulster Under 20 Football Championship 2019 launch at Garvaghey: Fergal Keenan (left) from Eirgrid and Oliver Galligan (Ulster GAA president), with team captains from each county. Picture by Cliff Donaldson Eirgrid Ulster Under 20 Football Championship 2019 launch at Garvaghey: Fergal Keenan (left) from Eirgrid and Oliver Galligan (Ulster GAA president), with team captains from each county. Picture by Cliff Donaldson

With silverware in the bag, the Tyrone Under 20's have already tasted success this season, but manager Paul Devlin insists their involvement in the Philly McGuinness Cup was not about winning.

The chief objective was to develop a team with an effective style and a positive mentality.

Now he feels he has the blend just right for Sunday’s Ulster Championship first round clash with Down.

“It’s nice to win, but the important thing from our point of view is to get the lads gelling. We have up on 30 lads and they all feel they can get a position on that team,” he said.

“And if we’re not getting that feeling at this stage, I don’t feel we’re doing our job.

“We have competition, every lad wants to push in further. Okay, a big of silverware is nice, the lads got the win, but once you have that done, set the cup to the side and realise you have more work to do.

“There’s always room for improvement, and that’s the job me and Dermy (Carlin) have. But the big test will come in Championship football, that will tell us where we’re at.”

Down also tasted success in pre-season action, winning the Leo Murphy Cup, and they also have a Championship game under the belts, beating Antrim in a preliminary round tie at Clones last Sunday.

“They have one game under their belt, so it’s about how we respond to that. We’ll have to worry about ourselves and it’s all about how our lads react to that.”

Devlin and his assistant Dermot Carlin have unveiled a handful of exciting new players after trawling the county for undiscovered talent.

Full forward Sean Og McAleer is one of those who didn’t feature at Minor level, but he has taken the U20 scene by storm, hitting four goals in three games in the McGuinness Cup.

“I’m sure all those lads have been in development groups, and maybe at that stage just weren’t right for it, or didn’t feel it was something that they wanted at the time,” said former Tyrone defender Devlin.

“But the door should never be closed to anyone. Regarding the Minors for a couple of years, we had a good run, but we came up against two good Derry teams.

“Those type of games can go any way, and Derry made good use of them and went on to win Ulster.”

Darragh Canavan and Matthew Murnaghan have been released from Mickey Harte’s senior squad to throw their lot in with the U20s, and their quality and class could make all the difference this weekend.

“The two lads have come in and slotted in great. They have been playing with each other for years and against each other.

“If they’re not going to get the game time at senior level, there’s good development for them here to push forward for next year, or maybe even later this year. Mickey might come knocking on the door and say there’s lads we would like to bring in and blend into the group.

“But hopefully it will be a while before they need them, for hopefully the year will go on as long as possible.”

ends

A policy of rotation during the Development League, particularly in the final against Sligo at Mohill, has facilitated the involvement of the extended squad, and with intense competition for places, Devlin faces big selection calls ahead of the clash with the Mourne men.

“If the lads put the effort in, who’s to say they shouldn’t get their chance. Right up to when the game starts, you have to be prepared for anything at all.

“Look at Tiarnan Quinn, who wasn’t to start, but James Garrity pulled out due to illness, and Tiarnan slotted in straight away and had a good game.

“Big Liam Gray came in an did well, you had Cormac Munroe coming back from injury, goalkeeper Oran Grimes, and Oran Mallon, they all grabbed their chance.”