Mulligan: McGuigan will boost Tyrone

OWEN MULLIGAN has predicted that Brian McGuigan’s return to the Tyrone team will kick-start the Ulster champions’ stuttering forward line as they begin their defence of the provincial title this Sunday against Down.

McGuigan, who made a long-awaited return to the county colours for the final league game against Mayo, has not played in the Championship since the 2005 All-Ireland defeat of Kerry.

In his absence, Tyrone has struggled to replicate the kind of form in front of goal that allowed the side to claim Sam Maguire twice in two years and the full-forward line has had to take plenty of heat because of that.