SOMETHING truly historic will take place in London on Saturday – Tyrone footballers play their first-ever Championship game outside of Ireland.
Beginning the defence of the Dr Mick Loftus Cup, indeed targeting a third All-Ireland crown in-a-row, the Tyrone Masters face London at the Greenford home of Tir Chonaill Gaels.
Stats guru Eunan Lindsay trawled his extensive Red Hand records and, while the county hurlers have made the trip to England in the past – including to take on Warwickshire in Birmingham during last year’s Nicky Rackard Cup triumph – no Tyrone football team at any grade has thus far had a Championship outing on foreign soil.
Therefore, in the hours after a new English king is coronated in the centre of the city, the all-conquering Masters will break new ground when they take to the field for their 3pm throw-in.
“It should be quiet enough about the place,” laughed Tyrone joint manager Damien Leonard.
“It’s a different experience for us, but it’ll be nice to get away for the weekend together as a group. We’re flying in that morning, they’re lifting us on a bus and taking us to Greenford, we’ll get something to eat, play the match then get out for a chat that night.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
And while there is a novelty element to Saturday’s trip, Leonard insists it will be strictly business once the ball is thrown in.
Indeed they are coming up against a county who have already commenced their Championship campaign, beating Sligo 1-13 to 1-8 last weekend, while the Exiles also lifted the Challenge Cup last year to finish 2022 with a flourish.
Although still relatively new to the Masters scene, impressive strides have been made, and Leonard is wary of a potential banana skin.
“They’re not a bad team in fairness – they’re progressing well,” said the Castlederg man, part of a management team that also includes dad Joe and fellow stalwart Eugene Bradley.
“People think it’s just a gather-up and a bit of craic, but naw. We don’t see it that way. We’ve a lot of players still involved in club football, still in good enough shape and still have that will to win… it’s very hard to get it out of those boys.
“And then we have a lot of support from the county board as well, which other Masters counties don’t get – we get Garvaghey every Wednesday to train and there’s never any hassle getting it.
“So, going into the Championship, it’s important to get off to a good start. We know we have to be careful.”
The Red Hands have always been included some big names among their number, with All-Ireland winners Conor Gormley and Eoin Bradley still leading the charge, while Stephen O’Neill, Ciaran Gourley and former Fermanagh star Marty McGrath – though unavailable this weekend – remain part of the panel.
And one man they hope to have at their disposal on Saturday is another three-time All-Ireland winner, Sean Cavanagh.
“We’re just not 100 per cent sure, but hopefully,” said Leonard.
“Sean’s on a working trip at the minute, hopefully he can stay in London on Friday night and meet us, then fly back on Saturday night so he doesn’t miss the Sunday Game.
“To be fair to Sean he was keen to get involved, and it keeps the thing going. We have five or six boys every year coming through, they bring a lift to it.
“They wouldn’t do it if they didn’t enjoy it and get a kick out of it. It’s good craic and good banter, but when they’re there they train hard and they play hard.”
