‘SADLY’ HARTE CAN TAKE DERRY ALL THE WAY

PAT NOLAN

KEVIN HUGHES admits that, “unfortunately”, he can see Mickey Harte inspiring Derry to All-ireland glory.

His former Tyrone boss features in the Laochra Gael profile of Hughes which airs tonight, though the scenes of them chatting in a park were shot last summer, prior to the shock news of Harte quitting Louth and moving to Derry emerging.

Hughes said: “I suppose from playing with Mickey and knowing the staunch Tyrone man that he is, it was a bit of a shock at the start but also knowing Mickey so well and so long and the drive and desire and the hunger that he has for Gaelic games, he obviously felt that Derry had a good chance and when he was approached he looked at it seriously.

“It doesn’t surprise me from that side of that he accepted the job. As we can see, he’s got off to a great start with them.

“Again, unfortunately, it wouldn’t surprise me either if they do go and win the All-ireland because that’s the high regard we would all hold Mickey in as a manager.”

Meanwhile, Hughes feels the current Tyrone team need to find a thread of consistency if they are to challenge for an

All-ireland again.

He said: “They went on a great run to win the All-ireland [in

2021] and deservedly won it, beating Kerry and Mayo in the semi-final and final.

Since then they’ve struggled to reach that consistency I’d say is the word, as a Tyrone fan, you’re just looking for that consistency.

“There’s a good mix of young lads coming through. I suppose a few of the older boys are trickling back into the squad from injuries so I’d like to think that if we got the mix right there we wouldn’t be too far away.”