Caolan puts injury woes behind him to bask in Under20s glory

HAVING endured his fair share of injuries over recent times, few Tyrone players savoured last week’s All-Ireland Under-20 success more than Caolan Donnelly.

The young Fintona star has tasted Championship success at Minor and Senior level with his club in the last couple of seasons, and also played an integral role in Omagh CBS’ march to Hogan Cup glory in 2023

But Caolan’s playing career has also been stymied of late by a litany of injury setbacks, the most recent a hamstring tear at the back end of last year.

Hours of arduous recuperation though proved well worthwhile as he sealed a second All-Ireland Under-20 medal with Tyrone’s resounding victory over Louth at the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday night,

The talented wing back admitted that this latest honour was especially sweet given all that he had been through.

“ When I was carried off the pitch in the middle of December I thought that was me done but I worked hard with the physios over the past three months and got back fully fit. It was great to come back and help the team out.

“ I have torn the hamstring four times now but the last time was the worst of them all. So I have had plenty of rehab over the last year or so and this (win) makes it all worthwhile.

“ Last year I didn’t get as much action as I wanted to though I got on during the (All-Ireland) final. Thankfully this year I got to play in most of the Championship and to round it off with an All-Ireland medal again is unreal.”

Tyrone’s Championship journey this year has been far from routine, and many were questioning the team’s credentials after they suffered an emphatic defeat in the group stages against Donegal in Ballybofey. Caolan felt that such a reversal ultimately worked in the team’s favour.

“ After the Donegal defeat a lot of people didn’t believe we were going to do it again. They were saying that Tyrone didn’t look like defending their title but we went back to the drawing board and learned from our mistakes.

“ We played them again in the final and got the better of them that time. It just shows what champions are all about, we find a way to get over the line.”

Again in the final Tyrone didn’t always have it their own way, with Louth the more impressive side in the first period, but Donnelly stated that the inherent self-belief which runs through the team ensured they never lost focus.

“ Their two midfielders were catching some ball but we knew if we found Noah (Grimes) and McElholm they each know where the net is. They were cooking their men and got us four goals in the end up. That made all the difference. I know we let them back in a bit with a couple of two pointers but we settled down again and put it to bed.”

Caolan also acknowledged that it was a great honour to be part of an historic achievement in becoming only the third Tyrone side ever to attain back-to-back All-Irelands at U20 (U21) level.

“ The whole chat before was that to really make your mark you had to do the double and we have managed that now. It’s great to make a bit of history.

“ I suppose we had the advantage of all knowing each other from last year but even the new boys who come in knew they have a job to do. The whole panel contributed this year.”