‘Hard work paying off’ for Tyrone after Kerry thrashing
FEARGAL Logan has suggested Tyrone will seek a personal hearing for full-back Ronan McNamee in a bid to get his red card overturned ahead of Sunday’s Ulster semi-final against Donegal.
McNamee was sent off 55 minutes into Tyrone’s 1-18 to 0-13 first round win over outgoing Ulster champions Cavan in Healy Park on Saturday night, referee David Gough showing him a straight red for lifting his hands into the face of Conor Brady.
Before becoming joint Tyrone manager, solicitor Logan used to represent Tyrone among countless other clubs and counties in disciplinary issues with the GAA — so will he be double-jobbing this week?
‘If we can find some man who knows anything about the GAA rule book we might have a look at it!’ he quipped.
‘Ah seriously, I haven’t seen it yet really, so I need to look at it. It needs to be judged on its own merits.
‘We will see how this week goes, there are channels within the Association to deal with this quickly and expeditiously.
‘We have a tight week here so maybe the earlier in the week we get that on, the better. We will look at it and study it.
‘Nowadays there are plenty of angles so we will see exactly what happened and I am sure he will get the benefit of all the fair play that is in Croke Park.’
Tyrone came into the Ulster SFC with many question marks hanging over them after a sixgoal mauling by Kerry in the National League.
Logan admitted they had been ‘laid bare’ in Killarney but within the camp there was rising confidence that their first proper bank of training would translate into a strong performance in Omagh.
‘Everyone saw us exposed the last day out and we were sitting ducks a bit coming into this, because Cavan were being talked down as well after their own League campaign.
‘You always scrutinise yourself most of all in defeats and it was a fairly graphic one. Everyone went back to base level and stripped away any thoughts we had.
‘The most important thing we had was time, because we had four weeks training together, which we had never had. Before that it was just League games every week.
‘We knew things were going well but were afraid to say it too loud in case the whole thing backfired again.
‘We we worked our socks off on the training field and I’m just glad some of that showed up today. We are just happy to get a win and see where we go from here.’
Logan described Darren McCurry as ‘the consummate professional’ after his brilliant 10-point haul. McCurry has built up a reputation as a player who does not always deliver on the big stage but his five points from play will boost his confidence for the greater challenge to come this weekend in Brewster Park.
The return of Cathal McShane, who came on and kicked three points in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury in February 2020, was even more pleasing.
‘Cathal had a long, lonely trek for a year and a half,’ added Logan.
‘He was edging to go even back in the League time but he did well today and got a few points and great for him in particular to be back on board after such an horrific injury.’
Assessing where Cavan now find themselves after their defence of the Ulster title ended at the first hurdle, manager Mickey Graham insisted that ‘the only way is up’.
Three successive League relegations mean Cavan will start 2022 in Division 4 — an extraordinary development for a county crowned kings of Ulster just over seven months ago.
‘It’s an opportunity to go away and get a few bodies back,’ said the Breffni boss.
‘Hopefully we will unearth a few players in the club championship and we will start building now, because we are in the bottom tier in the League so the only way is up.’
Graham felt the period midway through the tie when Tyrone reeled off 1-6 without reply, was crucial.
‘It’s not like we weren’t getting ball. We got lots of ball but we just didn’t execute.
‘Their goal then came from one of our errors and that gave them the breathing space to control the game after that.
‘If you don’t take your chances the big teams will punish you and Tyrone did that.’ TYRONE: N Morgan; M McKernan (B McDonnell 70), R McNamee, P Hampsey; R Brennan (M Bradley 69), M O’Neill, P Harte; M Donnelly, C Kilpatrick; K McGeary (T McCann h-t), R Donnelly (B Kennedy 35), C Meyler; D McCurry, P Donaghy (C McShane 48), N Sludden (F Burns 61). Scorers: D McCurry 0-10 (4f, 1m), B Kennedy 1-0, C McShane 0-3, N Sludden 0-2, P Harte, R Donnelly, P Donaghy 0-1 each. CAVAN: R Galligan; K Clarke, P Faulkner, C Reilly (L Fortune 30); B O’Connell, K Brady (N Murray 63), J McLoughlin; T Galligan, C Moynagh (C Madden h-t); G Smith, G McKiernan, O Kiernan; O Pierson, O Brady (C Smith h-t), M Reilly (C Brady 47). Scorers: G McKiernan 0-6 (4f), C Smith 0-2, T Galligan, G Smith, O Pierson, C Madden 0-1 each, R Galligan 0-1 (1f). Referee: David Gough (Meath).