Conor’s hit top Gear already

KIERAN HAILS MCKENNA IMPACT

WHAT A START Conor Mckenna has scored 3-4 in his first two games back for Tyrone

CONOR MCKENNA has readjusted to being a Gaelic footballer with surprising ease – and it’s not just on the pitch.

Af t e r q u itt i n g AF L c l u b Essendon only l ast month , Mckenna wasn’t expected to make a significant impact with Tyrone this year, with Red Hand legend Peter Canavan saying recently that he’d do well just to make the Championship panel.

But after two League games against Donegal and Mayo – in which he scored 3-4 and played a significant part in keeping Tyrone in Division One – he’s surely a nailed-on starter for next Sunday’s Ul st e r q u a r t e r - f i n a l a ga i n st Donegal.

Whi le hai ling Mckenna’s impact over the past two Sundays, teammate Kieran Mcgeary

(ri g ht ) re v e al e d h e h a s breezed into the Tyrone set-up with no fanfare.

“Take a look at what he did (against Mayo),” said Mcgeary. “He’s a natural athlete, he didn’t l ook out of place.

“He looked like he’d been one of our more experienced players for a number of years. He’s a big lad, he’s strong, he’s as down-to-earth as it comes. Honestly, you wouldn’t have thought he was a professional athlete, the way he’s come back to training.

“He has a fantastic attitude, he wants to be out there, rain, snow or blow, he wants to be playing with a Tyrone jersey on his back.

“I think he proves that every time he goes out on the pitch, and he’ll continue to do his best.”

There has been quite an amount of hype about Mckenna since he arrived home for good.

Mcgeary added: “I went to Donaghmore to watch him potentially play for Eglish, he was only home a few days. There was a massive crowd that day to watch him, and he wasn’t playing.

“You’re thinking, ‘Can he get up to the levels expected?’ but he’s a fantastic athlete and this is where he wants to be.” Mcgeary played with

Mckenna at minor level and feels his experience of the mark in Aussie rules could be brought to bear in football, with the advanced mark to feature in Championship football for the first time next weekend.

“He was no different. He’s the exact same player. Look at every team, they’re making the most of the mark. He’s a great asset for us.

“We’re extremely lucky to have him home considering big Cathal (Mcshane) is out. You’d like to know and see what those two could do up front if they’re both played inside.”

The 24-year-old is a player who could potentially light up this year’s Championship – or he could be gone along with Tyrone by next Sunday evening as they face a crunch clash with Donegal, who beat them only last week.

“We’re against it next week, going back up there,” Mcgeary admitted. “Their tails are up, we’ve survived to stay in Division One but nobody really talks about League come Championship. That chapter’s over.

“We’ve a lot of preparation to do inside seven days, we’ll do our best and try to get everything right.”