Don’t lose Harte for top flight

MICKEY HARTE says it’s vital that Tyrone hold on their Division One status.

The Red Hands face a battle to avoid the drop after picking up just one point from their opening three NFL ties, losing to Kerry and Mayo, before salvaging a draw with Roscommon last Sunday.

“It’s totally important, crucial to stay in Division One, because this is where you get competitive football all year round,” said Harte.

“If you’re not in Division One, you won’t get competitive football every day you go out, you’ll get football that you can win probably without being at your best.

“That’s no disrespect, but there’s some teams in Division Two who aren’t at the level of Division One football, and that tells a tale.

“That’s why people in Division Two are so keen to

NFL DIVISION 1 TABLE

get out of it, because they want to be mixing it with the best.”

Tyrone were fortunate to avoid a third straight defeat last Sunday against Roscommon but Harte felt the 1-10 to 1-10 stalemate represented a point dropped, rather than a first point secured.

“I’d say ultimately it’s a point lost for us. We needed the two, but one is a good enough result for them, and yes, we have lost a point that we feel we needed to have.”

Three of Tyrone’s remaining four games are at home, with Ulster rivals Monaghan and Cavan set to travel to Healy Park for the next two fixtures, but they face a stiff test against Dublin at Croke Park, before hosting Galway in the final tie.

Unfortunately the

Omagh venue has been no fortress for the Red Hands in recent times.