Harte finds solace in support and pledges: ‘life can go on’

MICKEY HARTE somehow found the strength to return to football management yesterday, less than a week after the funeral of his daughter Michaela.

Harte was back on the sideline at Edendork as Tyrone scored a 1-13 to 0-13 Dr McKenna Cup win over Donegal.

And after the game, he sent out a message of thanks to all who had lent support to his family since the tragedy.

“I want to say a big thank you to all the people of our local community, our local GAA club Errigal Ciarán, the Tyrone county board, the GAA at Ulster Council level, the GAA at All-Ireland level, the diplomatic people in the southern government, the people in the Assembly here,” he said.

“People from every sport in this province and in this country have been so gracious in their support of us, and we really appreciate it. Maybe we’ll never get the chance to say it to them all collectively again, but it is very, very well received by us all. The prayers and good wishes have really brought us through, because I can’t imagine how we would have got through without it.”

Harte thanked his players for the manner in which they approached the game, coming from behind to win in a fashion that honoured the memory of Michaela, one of Tyrone’s most fervent fans.

“They gave of their best, and that’s all I can ask of them. That’s the best way we can remember the good times that we had, and Michaela was very much part of that, and she will be in the future. And with the help of God, there’ll be better days.”

And the Red Hand boss said he appreciated the difficulty facing the players on both the Tyrone and Donegal teams as they took the field against a backdrop of tragedy and heartbreak.

“It was a good competitive game. I suppose that’s what both teams wanted and needed, and I suppose life had to go on. Life can go on in no better way than through our own sport, and the people that follow our games, because they have been great in the past, and they will be great in the future.”

Wearing black armbands, the Tyrone players took to the field with their manager and went into a huddle before observing a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Harte’s late daughter.