Tyrone and Down to face off in McKenna Cup

All-Ireland champions Tyrone’s first competitive fixture of 2006 will see them face Down in the opening round of the Dr McKenna Cup.

Fri, 25 Nov, 2005 - 01:15

All-Ireland champions Tyrone’s first competitive fixture of 2006 will see them face Down in the opening round of the Dr McKenna Cup.

Mickey Harte’s side has been drawn with the Mourne men, Donegal and St Mary’s University College, Belfast, in Section C of the Ulster competition.

Interestingly, Mary’s are managed by Paddy Tally, the man who trained Harte’s Tyrone to their first All-Ireland since title in 2003.

Tally departed as trainer of the Red Hands last September as Harte admitted, at the time, that their “working relationship no longer exists”. The former colleagues will come face-to-face again on January 15 when Mary's take on Tyrone at Coalisland.

Meanwhile, Ulster champions Armagh have Fermanagh, Cavan and the University of Ulster, Jordanstown for company in Section A, while Section B, the winners of which go straight through to the final on February 19, contains 2005 runners-up Derry, Monaghan, Antrim and Queen's University, Belfast.

2006 DR MCKENNA CUP DRAW (All throw-ins at 2.00pm, unless stated):

Sunday, January 8:

Section A: Armagh v UUJ, St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen; Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan.

Section B: Monaghan v Derry, Monaghan venue; Queen's v Antrim, Casement Park, Belfast.

Section C: Donegal v St. Mary's, Fr. Tierney Park, Ballyshannon; Tyrone v Down, Healy Park, Omagh.

Sunday, January 15:

Section A: UUJ v Cavan; Fermanagh v Armagh, Brewster Park, Enniskillen.

Section B: Derry v Queen's, Maghera; Antrim v Monaghan, Casement Park, Belfast.

Section C: St. Mary's v Tyrone, Coalisland; Down v Donegal, Newry.

Sunday, January 22:

Section A: Armagh v Cavan, St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen; UUJ v Fermanagh, Irvinestown.

Section B: Monaghan v Queen's, Monaghan venue; Derry v Antrim, Maghera.