Loughran targeting a New Year double

HARRY Loughran is prepared to serve two masters in his bid to land a double helping of glory early in the New Year.

The Moy clubman, while strongly focused on his team’s All-Ireland Club intermediate semi-final against An Gaeltacht on the weekend of January 20-21, is also intent on nailing down a regular place in Mickey Harte’s Tyrone side.

And this could lead to him facing a hectic start to 2018 as the Red Hands will bid to land the Dr McKenna Cup for a seventh successive year in a competition that is now shoe-horned into a three-week spell.

“The McKenna Cup is a great competition for helping players achieve places in the side,” stated Loughran. “I know I’ll have to try and get a balance between my commitments with Moy and Tyrone.”

Tyrone have been bracketed in Section A with Sigerson Cup holders St Mary’s University College, Mattie McGleenan’s Cavan side and Antrim, while UUJ join Derry, Down and Armagh in Section B.

Section C will see new Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher coming up against his former Donegal charges, with Monaghan and Queen’s also in the group.

Round One begins on Wednesday, January 3 with the second round scheduled for Sunday, January 7 and Round Three the following Wednesday (January 10). The semi-finals will be played on Sunday, January 14 with the final pencilled in for the weekend of January 20-21.

Up for the Cup: representatives of competing sides at last night’s McKenna Cup draw in Belfast