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Tyrone and Derry clash in opener

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Tyrone captain Stephen O’Neill will miss the NFL opener against Derry after being injured during the Dr McKenna Cup Final. pm0531

By FRANCIS MOONEY
TYRONE launch their National Football League campaign this weekend with a high profile Ulster derby clash with Derry at Celtic Park.
It's a fixture to whet the appetite of supporters from both counties, and local rivalry should ensure that Saturday evening's game will be a fiercely competitive encounter.
Red Hand boss Mickey Harte is targeting an opening day win for his side, which just lost out to Donegal last weekend in the Dr McKenna Cup final.
“If you don't win your early games in the National League, then you're looking at the wrong end of the table, so we need to be trying to win games away from home.
“Celtic Park won't be easy, but there's no game in our division doing to be easy anyway, so we need to be on our best form," said Harte.
Following games against Derry and Mayo, the league takes a three week break, during which Harte plans to decide on the composition of his squad.
“It's a chance for us to assess where we're at and see which players are coming back, and what level of fitness they are at, and when they're likely to be able to join the real business of playing football. We have the few weeks to assess that and we'll do that."
The Tyrone boss was disappointed to see his side's unbeaten run in the McKenna Cup brought to an end at Brewster Park.
“They came from 11-7 down and they won the game, and there's no argument about that. We talked before the game that this is all about going out and getting a result.
Ultimately, it's not about how fancy or how nice it is, it's about a result, and Donegal needed a result tonight and they got it. We would have liked a result too."
Michael Murphy, who had tormented the Tyrone defence 10 days earlier, scoring 2-9 at Ballybofey, was this time held in check, and restricted to just one point from play.
“That was the way it was going to be. It's not too long since we played each other, and Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden were quite on fire, and Martin Penrose up at the other end with three goals.
“So I suppose we were aware of that danger for each other, and it wasn't as potent on either side tonight, although Martin Penrose had a great game for us, presented well
and took some good scores and his tackling was superb."
Despite the disappointment of defeat in Enniskillen, Harte was please to get a highly competitive game so soon before the start of the NFL.
“It's always good to get a competitive game, and I suppose it brings up the standard of play as we approach the National League.
“ suppose we really need to be in that place. It was really a bit false, all the high scores that were happening, and we were alert to that.
“Another couple of points would have won that match, and it was only half of what we were getting to date.
“That's life in the harder lane, so to speak, and finals are all about winning, they're not about fancy footwork or fancy footwork."
Meanwhile, former Footballer of the Year Stephen O'Neill has been ruled out of action for at least six weeks after dislocating an elbow in Saturday evening's game.
O'Neill will miss a minimum of three National Football League games, but the outlook could be worse, should further damage be discovered.
“Stephen is going for an MRI scan later this week, just to check if there's any cracks, small fractures or chipped bones," said Tyrone assistant manager Tony Donnelly.
“We're hoping there's no fractures there, but we'll just have to wait and see. And we're hopeful of a full recovery in the time scale that we're talking about.
“He's not in any cast, he's in a sling. It's uncomfortable, but the pain he was in at the time has subsided."
O'Neill had just put Tyrone four points ahead, nine minutes into the second half at Brewster Park, when he suffered the injury. The Red Hands scored just two further points, and lost out to a winning goal scored by David Walsh in the tenth minute of stoppage time.
The Clan na nGael attacker will play no part in the NFL ties against Derry, Mayo and Monaghan, but could be back for the home game against Cork on March 13.
Tyrone will be hoping that full back Justin McMahon is available for next Saturday's league opener against Derry at Celtic Park.
McMahon suffered mild concussion after sustaining a bang to the back of the head which required stitching.

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