Sam hailed in every nook and cranny in Tyrone

THE Tyrone victory tour moved on to Owen Mulligan’s home town last night as a crazed county revelled in a wonderful party.

Several thousand supporters lined the streets of Cookstown as Sam Maguire arrived along with the All-Ireland champions.

And the celebrations are set to continue for a fortnight, with the players due to visit every corner of the county, day by day.

Last night, they also travelled to Chris Lawn’s Moortown, and later to Ardboe, home of Brian and Frank McGuigan, Gavin Devlin and Michael Coleman, where rapturous receptions greeted the squad.

Conor Gormley’s Carrickmore is the venue tonight following the Goal charity match against Monaghan at Omagh (5pm), and tomorrow, the players will visit Coalisland, before appearing on UTV’s End to End programme later in the evening.

Friday will herald another television appearance on the Kelly Show, followed by an engagement at a presentation evening in St Ciaran’s High School, Ballygawley, where manager Mickey Harte is a teacher, and many of the team, including Peter Canavan, received their early education. A massive crowd is set to invade Navan on Saturday, when Tyrone bid to pick up a second All-Ireland title in the space of a week. The U21s, with Seán Cavanagh., John Devine and Dermot Carlin on board, face Dublin in the decider at Páirc Tailteann.

The All-Ireland senior champions will be in Trillick on Sunday for the official opening of the local club’s new pitch, before returning to their own clubs for league action. And if they have any energy left, there’s another week of touring ahead. The people of Dungannon and Killeeshil will welcome their heroes on Monday, followed by Moy on Tuesday.

On Wednesday it’s on to Rock and Pomeroy, followed by Donaghmore on Thursday and Eglish on Friday.

And on Saturday week, north Tyrone will join the party, with the victorious squad taking in the clubs of Newtownstewart, Urney, Strabane, Owen Roes and Aughabrack.