Football

Tyrone’s top scorer Lee Brennan injury doubt for the Ulster SFC opener

Tyrone star Lee Brennan. Picture: Seamus Loughran.
Tyrone star Lee Brennan. Picture: Seamus Loughran. Tyrone star Lee Brennan. Picture: Seamus Loughran.

Tyrone’s top scorer Lee Brennan has emerged as a doubt for the big Ulster SFC opener against Monaghan on May 20.

He picked up a hamstring injury in the latter stages of Trillick’s Division One league tie against Donaghmore on Sunday, and is a major concern for the Healy Park tie.

The 21-year-old made a sensational impact during this year’s NFL, finishing as Division One’s top scorer with 2-30.

His loss would be a major blow to the Red Hands’ chances of taking out a confident Farney side.

The severity of the injury is being assessed.

He pulled up after kicking his ninth point of the game in the 2-25 to 0-10 win over Donaghmore, a fifth straight victory which has maintained Trillick’s position as outright league leaders.

Elsewhere Pomeroy's Brendan Burns, another member of the Tyrone squad, was stretchered off in the club's game against neighbours Carrickmore.

An ankle injury could rule him out of the clash with Monaghan, reducing Mickey Harte’s defensive options.

And concern is growing over All-Star midfielder Colm Cavanagh, who had to watch the Moy v Killyclogher game from the sideline, unable to play for Moy due to a quad muscle injury sustained in training during the build-up to the NFL game against Kerry in late March.

On the plus side, wing back Tiernan McCann made his return to action for the first time since cracking a kneecap in the NFL game against Kildare on February 11.

He played a full 60 minutes for Killyclogher in the narrow 0-12 to 0-11 defeat to All-Ireland Intermediate champions Moy, and is in the frame for the meeting with Malachy O’Rourke’s side.

Otherwise, the county men came through a weekend of club action largely unscathed, and Tyrone boss Mickey Harte will be encouraged by the form shown by several of his players, none more so that rising star Frank Burns.

Burns turned in a towering performance as Pomeroy defeated neighbours Carrickmore for the first time in 50 years, emerging with a 2-10 to 0-14 success. The Plunketts goals came from Denvir Nugent and John Loughran.

Errigal Ciaran had Peter Harte in impressive form as they defeated Derrylaughan by 1-13 to 2-6, with Stephen McRory getting their goal.

Ronan O’Neill and Conor Meyler played the full 60 minutes for Omagh as they defeated Galbally by 2-9 to 0-11 at Healy Park.

O’Neill grabbed a handful of points and set up both goals, scored by wing backs Barry Tierney and Damien McGuigan.

The St Enda’s saw out the game despite scoring just one point in the final 20 minutes, as the Pearses crashed to a fifth defeat in as many outings, and anchor the Division One table.

Edendork’s fine run of form continued, and a 2-9 to 0-10 win at Aghyaran lifted them to fifth place in the league table. Their goals came from Harry Og Conlan and Donal Maneely.

Dromore are in second place, with a game in hand, following their fourth straight win, a 0-15 to 1-8 success at Coalisland, where they turned on the style in the second half to come from behind.

Stephen McNally’s first half goal gave the Fianna the edge, but scores from Emmet McNabb, Tiernan Sludden and Ronan McNabb helped the St Dympna’s take the points.