Tyrone set for season opener

THE Tyrone players will take to the field for their first game of the season tonight with heavy hearts, but with a resolve to do justice to their desire of honouring the memory of Michaela McAreavey, according to trainer Fergal McCann.

The Red Hands face UUJ in their Dr McKenna Cup opener at Healy Park, where the atmosphere is certain to be subdued. But McCann, who along with assistant manager Tony Donnelly, will take charge of team affairs, is certain the players will display an appetite for the action.

“They feel for Mickey, John and the family, there’s no better bunch of lads to do that. They will feel that they want to honour Michaela’s memory in the best possible way,” he said.

“Everybody is striving to get that bit of normality, and I know, even when we had the session last Thursday night, the boys were keen to get stuck into it for that hour. We’ll get back into things for this match, and gradually that sense of routine will come back.”

And he revealed that a squad gathering held last Thursday night developed into a worthwhile training session.

“It lifted the minds for a while. We did an hour’s football and continued on. We know how important the McKenna Cup competition is to the squad. And it’s the preparation that they need for the National League as well.”

McCann insisted that despite the tragic and heartbreaking events of the past week, Tyrone will give full commitment to the McKenna Cup competition, which will see them play three games in the space of a week.

“There’s not a doubt about it. The McKenna Cup is valued highly within the Tyrone squad.”