McMenamin happy to avoid scenic route

WINNING back-to-back Ulster titles was satisfying in its own right for Ryan ‘Ricey’ McMenamin and Tyrone last Sunday, but so too was the fact they have managed to avoid the back door.

Much has been made of how Kerry have focused on pursuing the traditional route this year given the age of some of their main men and much the same can be said of Mickey Harte’s squad.

“We are happy enough to have avoided the back door,” said McMenamin. “Seeing the way the back door went this year, you have a lot of big teams out including Derry and Armagh. You have Cork and Dublin coming up.