All-Star Kennedy still ambitious for more success

TYRONE All-Star midfielder Brian Kennedy still has to pinch himself when he reflects on his meteoric rise to the top over the past twelve months- but recognises it’s now time to get down to brass tacks with a new season underway.

On the eve of the Red Hands National Football League opener against Monaghan this Sunday afternoon in Omagh (3.45pm throw-in), the 23 year old Derrylaughan star is hoping to be back out centre stage again as he recuperates from a series of niggly injuries.

From being a periphery figure in the County set-up, Kennedy really sprung to prominence in 2021, his second half goal as a substitute in the Ulster Championship first round tie at O’Neills Healy Park against Cavan laying the platform for a whirlwind summer of success.

That ascent through the ranks was sealed with a superb showing in the All-Ireland Final against Mayo, which copper fastened his All-Star accolade. Little wonder then that 2021 will always hold fond memories for him.

“ If you had told me this time last year that 2021 would have panned out the way it did, it would definitely have taken me by surprise.

“ I have been with Tyrone now three years, and I always knew there was something big within that group, so it was a matter of time, and I knew that if we could all gel together, there was something big coming.”

Kennedy struck up a highly-effective midfield partnership with Conn Kilpatrick last year, re-establishing a connection which was first on show back in their school days with St Patrick’s Academy. Brian felt that the Edendork man was just as deserving of an individual gong at the back end of the season in recognition of his performances in the County jersey

“ For me to cap it all with an All-Star, I couldn’t believe it really, to be honest.

“I thought Conn probably did more than me to deserve it, but it’s just the luck of the draw and you take things as they come, and it was much appreciated and a big honour. Me and Conn went through the Academy (Dungannon) together, so the familiarity was there.

“He’s a seriously athletic player. That catch in the All-Ireland Final was unbelievable, and maybe overshadowed all the rest of the good work he did throughout that final and the whole year.

“ He was exceptional himself, and hopefully he can build on it this year.

“It’s only the beginning for the two of us, we’re 23 and 24, so there’s a lot more to be done.

“We’ll be getting no more pats on the back now, we’ll have to go out and prove that we can do it season-in, season-out.”

Kennedy was one of those who really thrived under the new management regime of Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher last term and unsurprisingly he praises them for helping to nuture and develop his game.

“ Brian and Feargal placed a lot of trust in me.

“In some of the matches they gave me a man-marking job, trusted me to go out there and do a job on some of the midfielders or whoever it was that needed clamped down on, they gave me the licence to do so. When I was given that job, I didn’t want to let them down, so I went out every day and tried to give my best for them.”

As the old saying goes however ‘Eaten bread is soon forgotten’ and Brian accepts that the heroic deeds of 2021 must now be consigned to the history books as Tyrone seek to replicate their All-Ireland success this year.

“ That’s our number one goal this year, to go out and retain Sam. It was unbelievable last year to win it, and it would be even better to do so again.

“ We have the talent there definitely to do it, we have strong new players coming in to the panel, a bit of youth and a good blend with experience.

“ Winning it last year will do everybody’s confidence the world of good, so it will definitely be an interesting 2022. Every other team will be gunning us down, and it was shown in the McKenna Cup even, there’s a target on our backs early doors and everybody wants to take our scalp.”

And nobody will be keener to lay down a marker than Sunday’s opening NFL opponents Monaghan who suffered an agonising one point defaet to Tyrone in last year’s Ulster Final at Croke Park.

“ We played them twice last year, and it was a draw in the League,” added Kennedy.

“We won by a point in the Ulster Final, so there’s a flip of a coin between the two teams over who comes out on top. It’s been that way for years now. They have looked impressive in the McKenna Cup, something we have failed to do.

“It’s going to be a massive game, and hopefully we can get a few more experienced heads out on the pitch and really push it to them and get that first win.

“ Every game in Division One is always a tough test and you want to get the points on the board as early as possible to give yourself a good footing to go on into those last few games and push for a place in the final.

“ But it’s safety that’s important first, and getting points on the board early is the key to that.”