Tyrone goalkeeper to miss season's start

Tyrone goalkeeper John Devine will miss the start of the 2010 inter-county season after surgery on his left shoulder in Belfast yesterday.

Devine dislocated the shoulder in July, missing Tyrone's All-Ireland quarter-final win over Kildare and their subsequent semi-final defeat to Cork.

The 26-year-old school teacher returned to assist during Errigal Ciaran's Tyrone League-winning run and was between the posts for Ulster's recent Interprovincial Championship final victory over Munster.

But the injury has proved particularly troublesome and the time was right, according to Devine, to go under the knife.

"I had put the operation off as I was still involved with the club, but this was as good a time as any to get it done," he said.

Meanwhile, Devine's Tyrone side will begin the new season with a Dr. McKenna Cup group game against Cavan at Healy Park on January 10.

The draw for the 2010 Dr McKenna Cup also saw the Ulster competition's new sponsors confirmed - the Omagh-based company Barrett Sports Lighting.

Cup holders Donegal have been draw in Group B with Tyrone, Cavan and St. Mary's College. Their first game is at home to St. Mary's.

New Armagh manager Paddy O'Rourke's first competitive game in charge will see the Orchard men entertain Fermanagh in Crossmaglen.

James McCartan, the newly-appointed Down manager, will be preparing his troops for a Dr. McKenna Cup opener away to Derry on January 10.

2009/10 BARRETT ELECTRICAL DR. MCKENNA CUP DRAW:

Sunday, January 10 - (all throw-ins at 2pm)

Group A:

Monaghan v UUJ, Clones

Armagh v Fermanagh, Crossmaglen

Group B:

Tyrone v Cavan, Healy Park

Donegal v S Mary's, Ballybofey

Group C:

Derry v Down, Celtic Park

Antrim v Queen's University, Casement Park

Sunday, January 17 - (all throw-ins at 2pm)

Group A:

Armagh v UUJ, Crossmaglen

Fermanagh v Monaghan, Brewster Park

Group B:

Cavan v Donegal, Breffni Park

Tyrone v St Mary's, Healy Park

Group C

Down v Queen's University, Pairc Esler

Antrim v Derry, Casement Park

Wednesday, January 20 - (all throw-ins at 7.30pm)

Group A:

Monaghan v Armagh, Inniskeen

Fermanagh v UUJ, Brewster Park

Group B:

Cavan v St Mary's, Breffni Park

Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey

Group C:

Down v Antrim, Pairc Esler

Derry v Queen's University, Celtic Park

Saturday, January 23/Sunday, January 24 -

Semi-Finals:

Best Runners-Up v Winners Group C

Winners Group A v Winners Group B

Saturday, January 30 - Final