DREAD HANDS?
After record Galway rout now Dubs are coming to town but news isn’t all bad for Tyrone
CATHAL MCSHANE may yet see Championship football for Tyrone this summer after his horror injury in Tuam.
However the news isn’t all good for Tyrone with Kieran Mcgeary’s red-card ban upheld and Peter Harte (right) also in danger of missing out.
The Errigal Ciaran man may have to miss part of a special family day in a bid to help Tyrone stay in Division One.
The player’s sister is getting married today – with the Red Hands due to take on All-ireland champions Dublin in Healy Park in Omagh tonight in a crucial League clash.
Tyrone are in desperate need of a strong performance after last weekend’s horror show in Tuam when they suffered a 19-point mauling by Galway, and lost All
Star forward Cathal Mcshane.
It’s understood
Mcshane has not broken his ankle but it is dislocated, which may require surgery on damaged ligaments. While he’s unlikely to be togged for the Ulster Championship opener with Donegal on May 17, Tyrone are now more hopeful he will play some part this summer.
Tyrone have to show some resolve and character in front of their own fans tonight and need all their best players available.
So, after attending the church ceremony tomorrow afternoon, Harte may have to skip a large chunk of the wedding reception celebrating the marriage of his sister,
Grace, to his Tyrone and Errigal Ciaran club-mate Aidan Mccrory.
Kieran Mcgeary will also miss out after his straight red card against Galway was upheld by the CCCC in Croke Park on Thursday night.
Despite threats about Storm Jorge potentially causing havoc, Omagh St Enda’s are confident Healy Park will be able to stage the glamour League game and avoid another last minute dash to find a new venue. The home game with Kerry three weeks ago had to be moved from Omagh to Edendork at short notice, and while rumours have been circling about tonight’s game being moved to Pomeroy on Sunday, Omagh is the only show in town.
And Tyrone need to put on a show, even in terms of the performance if not the result, after accepting their fate so tamely down in Tuam. It concerned injured skipper Mattie Donnelly, who was watching from the stand.
“The floodgates opened, that is one thing we need to address, how easy they (Galway) widened the gap,” said Donnelly. “It looks bad on the scoreboard but you can’t dwell on these things.
“You need to digest them because they are never as bad as they look. It is a quick turnaround now to playing Dublin and it is a big challenge, but that is why you play the game.
“When Dublin come to town there’s no issues getting up for that. It’s about getting boys’ heads right.”