MY BOYS READY FOR GREATNESS

FERGAL LOGAN believes his former Tyrone All-ireland winners are ready to depart the ‘waiting lounge’ and enter the winners’ enclosure.

The ex-red Hands midfielder led the country to the All-ireland U21 title three years ago – and 10 of that squad are expected to feature in Mickey Harte’s match-day 26 for Sunday’s All-ireland final.

Watching the Limerick hurlers – who won U21 titles in 2015 and 2017 – storm to a fairytale

All-ireland two weeks ago should be further evidence to the young Tyrone players that they are on the road to greatness.

“Perhaps they are marginally ahead of schedule, but sure why not?” says Logan (above after 2015 U21 final).

“It is never too early, and the Limerick hurlers have shown us how quickly U21 success can lead to the big one.

“U21 level is very cut throat and you can lose early but the beauty of a run is everyone is in the shop window.

“It is the waiting lounge for senior inter-county football after all. And the longer you’re in it, the longer you’re exposed to elite competition and everything that goes with it.”

Only a handful of the county’s 2008 and 2010 All-ireland winning minors developed into established senior players, such as Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly and Niall Sludden. So the numbers that have come through from the U21 side guided by Logan, Brian Dooher and Peter Canavan in 2015 are remarkable.

Logan states: “We had five, good, tight Championship games and won all of them.

“The players saw the rewards of success but overall it was their quality and commitment that stands out.

“By the age of 21, as opposed to 17 or 18, you are a step closer to the top rung and nearer to that transition. Hopefully we can keep the supply chain going to senior.”

Logan would love to see Tyrone boss Mickey Harte throw a curve ball at Dublin and play All-star midfielder Colm Cavanagh at full-forward.

“If Dublin have a weakness, it’s in their fullback line. Colm is so adept where he is that it would be a real high-wire routine for Mickey to play him there, but it would be really interesting.”