RED HAND DISASTER WITH KEY PAIR OUT

TYRONE have been hit with a double hammer blow in their bid to avoid relegation from Division 1.

The Red Hand men will be without All-ireland winners Michael Mckernan (broken hand) and Conn Kilpatrick (ankle ligaments) for the rest of the League.

Mckernan is also a major doubt for the Championship opener against Cavan or Monaghan on April 21. Of more immediate concern is next weekend’s crunch Omagh date with Monaghan, who prop up Division 1 on two points from five games. Tyrone’s final game is away to Dublin so the Monaghan game is a must-win for both sides.

Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan have handed out nine debuts this year so the news that they will be without two of their most experienced players for a number of weeks is a major blow in a condensed season.

Midfielder Kilpatrick (above) damaged ankle ligaments in their defeat to Kerry last week which will rule him out for three weeks.

Mckernan (inset) sustained a broken hand in the closing stages of the first half of Tyrone’s win over Mayo a fortnight ago.

Peter Harte went off injured in the first half against Kerry but the team captain is expected to be fit for next weekend’s Monaghan tie at Healy Park.

Tyrone started with only six of their 2021 All Ireland team in Killarney.

On the plus side Cathal Mcshane got his first minutes of the season under his belt, while Kieran Mcgeary made another appearance as a substitute.

Frank Burns, Conor Meyler, Mattie Donnelly and Michael O’neill are all on the injury list but are closing in on a return. Omagh dynamo Meyler is expected to resume training again in April.