Skipper Dooher too good to leave out

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte says he couldn’t contemplate leaving a fully fit Brian Dooher out of his starting 15, even though the Tyrone skipper hasn’t played since last summer.

Harte has defended his decision to include Dooher in his team for tomorrow’s Ulster SFC clash with Antrim.

It will be the double All-Ireland winning captain’s first taste of inter-county action since the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork last August.

“He’s such a good player, you couldn’t not have him on,” said Harte.

The Clan na nGael man, who will soon turn 35, has battled to overcome a series of injures over the winter, but according to Harte, is now in top shape.

“He’s in on merit. He’s back in full training this past five or six weeks. His fitness levels are just way up there with everybody.”

The Tyrone boss believes Dooher’s presence will inspire those around him to raise their game in the Ulster champions’ first defence of their provincial title.

“He just brings a whole new atmosphere to the training when he’s there, and brings the best out of everybody. If he stays injury-free, we haven’t seen the end of him by a long shot.”

Dooher will embark on a 14th championship campaign when he leads the Red Hands out at the west Belfast venue this weekend. And alongside him in attack will be another man seriously short on match practice, his club colleague, Stephen O’Neill.

The former Footballer of the Year missed the entire National Football League after dislocating an elbow in a Dr McKenna Cup match.

Harte also warned that Antrim will be no pushovers tomorrow and reflected: “They’re definitely an improving side with a lot of belief now. They have consecutive promotions to prove that and have All-Ireland club champions in their midst in the form of St Gall’s. They reached an Ulster final last year for the first time in 39 years and I know they’re happy with the progress they’re making.

“They’re now in the same division as us next year for the National Football League so Antrim are not considered the weakest link in Ulster any more, not like how it used to be.”

Meanwhile Harte admitted his “dismay” at the new handpass rule which caused such controversy last weekend.

He said: “My reaction mirrors all of those interviewed last weekend, particularly at ground level in the games.

“It’s one of dismay and I didn’t like when this new rule was brought in, in the first place.

“I had grave concerns about how the motion was carried at Congress and worse still, we’re not having the rule that was accepted implemented in the right way. People are being blown up for perfectly legitimate handpasses but referees need to err on the side of the handpass because we could live with that. There was a desire for people to use the fist pass and I don’t like the idea of bringing in something that was rejected by default.

“It’s not right and you’ve got to accept that it’s not and do something about it.

“I’d rather miss a few that are throws rather than whistle up legitimate passes.”