Harte positive ahead of Championship

Despite a growing injury list, Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte feels that this season will be a more positive one for the Red Hands than last term.

2006 saw Tyrone crippled by a spate of long term injuries which eventually resulted in an exit from the All-Ireland championship with a second round qualifier loss to Laois at O'Moore Park.

With a more positive outlook twelve months on, Harte said: "Our injuries last year were much more serious and definitely long term. The players who got injured had no chance of being back at all so we are in a little bit more of a positive position this year.

"The injuries are treatable within a period of time of between four and six weeks and that definitely leaves us in a more positive position despite the fact that we have numerous injuries."

And it is not just the high profile names who are currently on the injury list.

"We have a lot of injuries again but thankfully they are not as long term or as serious as they were last year but we still have a lot of injuries there which means Stephen O'Neill and Martin Penrose will be unavailable and there are doubts over Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew," Harte admitted.

"There are a few other players like Mickey McGee, Joe McMahon and Kelvin Hughes whom we also have doubts over."

The Errigal Ciaran clubman expects a tough challenge in the Ulster championship this year. Tyrone's quarter-final opponents are Fermanagh and Harte will be taking nothing for granted when the sides clash on May 20.

"We would always be very weary of all our opponents and have total respect for them. I think of the Fermanagh team of 2004 when we beat them in Clones and then they came within a kick of a ball of taking part in an All-Ireland final.

"That's the quality they have in their team and it's certainly not a case of because of their league form that they aren't in a position to challenge.

"Our league form wasn't highly attractive either so we are both coming off poor enough ;league campaigns and a good win in this game would push either side into a better place," he added.