Football

Armagh clash an opportunity for players to 'put their hand up' says Tyrone manager Feargal Logan

Footballer of the Year Kieran McGeary had a superb season with Tyrone in 2021. Picture: Seamus Loughran.
Footballer of the Year Kieran McGeary had a superb season with Tyrone in 2021. Picture: Seamus Loughran. Footballer of the Year Kieran McGeary had a superb season with Tyrone in 2021. Picture: Seamus Loughran.

FOOTBALLER of the Year Kieran McGeary is expected to be among the All-Ireland winners in the Tyrone team when the Red Hands bring the curtain down on a memorable 2021 against Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on Friday night.

The Red Hands take on their rivals from across the Blackwater River in their first outing since they won a fourth Sam Maguire after a momentous season culminated in a superb performance against Mayo.

The game may be a challenge match but joint-manager Feargal Logan says it is an opportunity for players to “put their hand up” and impress the selectors.

“Games are what it’s all about and Tyrone-Armagh is always an interesting fixture whatever the backdrop so it’s good to have this game and be able to assist with this charity,” he said.

“Around county football there aren’t that many opportunities for players to go out and impress. This provides an opportunity for players to do that and put their hand up and it’s the same in Armagh as it will be in Tyrone - once players take to the field they generally want to win.”

Logan and Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney have been friends since their playing days with Queen’s University in the early 1990s. The proceeds from Friday night’s game will go towards building a park in memory of McGeeney’s cousin James Reel and Logan said Tyrone were delighted to be involved in the charity clash.

“When there’s a good cause, everybody within the GAA rallies to it and once everything was agreed and approved we were happy to partake,” said Logan.

“The club season is just coming to an end in Tyrone and there’s plenty of boys coming out of it with injuries and doing a bit of rehab at the minute so we’ll have a mixture of new faces and some of the boys who played in the All-Ireland final.”