Clubs learn their fate

NOW back in training North Tyrone clubs learned who their opponents will be this upcoming season when the draw for the new look 2020 All-County Leagues was held on Tuesday night in Garvaghey.

With each of the three grades-Senior, Intermediate and Junior- now sub-divided into two groups because of the condensed window for football in what remains of 2020, all sides will now play seven competitive league games instead of the more customary fifteen (sixteen in Div 3).

Last weekend the clubs overwhelmingly backed a County Board proposal to do away with relegation in Division One and Two, but with promotion still on the table there is no lack of motivation for local sides.

Owen Roes, who just missed out on promotion last year, are in Division 2A, where they are joined by the newly formed Naomh Eoghan side (formerly Newtownstewart and Dregish). That is the only real local match up on the cards, with much of the group comprised of teams from east of the county.

Sigersons, now under the stewardship of James O’Reilly and Eamon McGowan,  have been pitched into Division 2B, with Aghyaran and Gortin their most familiar local rivals. There is certainly a ‘Valley’ slant to that grouping with neighbours Clogher, Augher and Aghaloo all included.

Urney begin life at Junior level in Division 3A but an immediate promotion push will be hard earned, given that group includes derby ties with Castlederg and Clann na nGael, as well as a meeting with fallen giants Cookstown.

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