Football

Seven new faces in Tyrone U20 squad for All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin

Dungannon's Conall Devlin is one of seven new faces in the Tyrone U20 panel. Picture Seamus Loughran.
Dungannon's Conall Devlin is one of seven new faces in the Tyrone U20 panel. Picture Seamus Loughran. Dungannon's Conall Devlin is one of seven new faces in the Tyrone U20 panel. Picture Seamus Loughran.

SENIOR championship winner Conal Devlin is one of seven new faces called into the Tyrone U20 panel for next month's All-Ireland semi-final clash with Dublin.

The Dungannon youngster, who starred at corner-back in his club's run to their first title in 64 years, is rewarded with a spot in the Red Hand side that plays the Leinster champions on Saturday, October 17.

Also called up to the Paul Devlin-managed side is Ardboe's Oran Mulgrew (younger brother of senior star David), Mark Hayes, Oisin McCann (younger brother of Tiarnan and Conall) and John Rafferty (all Killyclogher), Eoghan Robinson (Errigal Ciaran) and Carrickmore centre half-forward Rory Donnelly.

Tyrone were originally scheduled to play Dublin on St Patrick's Day and the squad trained on March 10 before all GAA activities were shut-down. Club action resumed after lockdown so six months had gone by before they met again earlier this month.

"You see big changes over six months in lads of 19 or 20 years old," said assistant-manager Dermot Carlin.

"There's a big difference in some of the lads' physically and in their capabilities and potential and how they've improved with their clubs. We've found a massive difference so, six months later, it's really a new team.

"The seven lads we called in just stood out playing senior football for their clubs. I went to a right-few games but Paul Devlin went to every match under the sun - junior, intermediate and senior.

"He has left no stone unturned and the news lads aren't there to make up numbers, they're there to fight for places in the team. It's great, it keeps everybody on their toes."

Opponents Dublin were beaten All-Ireland finalists last year and retained their Leinster title with 10-point win over Laois back in March. Prolific forward Ciaran Archer top-scored with seven points in that game.

"Dublin will be strong," said Carlin.

"There is quite a pool of talent down there and I'd say, like ourselves, they'll have developed a lot over the last six months. So really it's a completely new game with two new teams.

"It took us a while building a bit of momentum up at the start of the year and, once we got it, we were good but we've lost it now and we need to get it back. The lads will be up for playing Dublin in an All-Ireland semi-final."

Last year Tyrone bowed out in a high-scoring All-Ireland semi-final against Cork in Tullamore. Antoin Fox, hobbled off injured in that game and the luckless Loughmacrory youngster will miss out through injury again this year. Joe Oguz is also ruled out after undergoing knee surgery but Darragh Canavan, Tiarnan Quinn, Lorcan Quinn and Mattie Murnaghan are among the survivors from last year's side and Carlin says this year's club/county season has benefited the emerging youngsters.

"I think it has helped them," he said.

"I think it's been an ideal scenario and I think we should go on with this - club first and county after that. Then you have rewards for club players who have performed well year. They mightn't win the county title but they get called up to the county panel and you are picking lads on current form and lads who are playing football.

"I think it's the way to go - get the club football done first with everyone training together and then go ahead to the county series."