Grimes hopes Tyrone Ladies can maintain momentum

IT’S twenty five years this summer since a youthful Barry Grimes joined forces with Sean O’Kane in the Tyrone ladies management and that campaign culminated with a first All-Ireland title.

Now the duo are reunited and the Red Hands are well placed to secure another Croke Park date this Spring.

Three wins from three have been secured in the National League against Westmeath, Tipperary and Monaghan ahead of the visit of relegation threatened Laois to Aghaloo this Sunday.

Tyrone sit level on points with Kildare at the top of the Division Two table and assistant manager Grimes is happy to be looking up rather than worrying about any potential relegation concerns.

>body2text<“We are in a position now where we won’t be looking behind us with a couple of big games to come against Kildare and Donegal. We have won our first three at home but if we can win our remaining two at home we will be well placed and that will be a massive platform.

“ We are a young team in transition and all that, but we want to be pushing for promotion and you don’t want to turn down a game at Croke Park.”

Tyrone dominated in the win over Monaghan last time out, despite the concession of a late penalty goal. Grimes was pleased overall with the nature of the performance.

“A local derby is always difficult and even when we had the breeze we tried a couple of pot shots that didn’t work out and Monaghan were well in the game. Chloe (Mc Caffrey) got the goal but they went straight up the park and scored one of their own.

“ Then we started to come into our own in the second quarter. We found pockets and gaps and we went in nine points up.”

The air of confidence running through the squad is understandable. Tyrone have produced some excellent football en route to the three wins and for the Beragh man it’s possibly come quicker than expected.

“ Our start has probably been above all expectations. To be three from three is perfect. We brought nineteen new players into the squad at the start of the year and we never thought they would gel as well as they have but they have and that’s testament to the hard work that they have put in since early November.”

Barry came into the set up again after a term with Cavan. Previously he had been with the Tyrone side that claimed the 2018 All-Ireland Intermediate title.

“Sean got me involved in coaching. He had been with us at Beragh and he was excellent. I always wanted to coach and certainly learned a lot with him and Tyrone in 1999. When he asked me to come back I thought why not and to be honest I am enjoying it.”

The accomplished mentor of course knew several of the current squad and they were well aware of what he was bringing to the table. It’s so far so good up at Garvaghey.

“ Training has been great. We have got the players all to buy in. Thirty plus at training every night means you can work on things, work on game plans and systems. Girls know where they have to be and credit to them they have tried to do what they are told, do what they’ve been asked to do and because of that we are getting results.

“ Everyone brings something to the table and things are going well, but you can only coach so much. It’s also down to honesty and hard work and the girls have really shown that throughout.”

Tyrone face Laois this weekend. They are currently pointless sitting bottom at the table after defeats to Donegal, Cavan and Tipperary.

They desperately need something from their trip to Aghaloo this weekend although after reporting a clean bill of health for the opening rounds Tyrone do have several injury concerns.

Omagh’s Aine Strain picked up an injury in the warm up ahead of the Monaghan game and Emma Conroy shipped a heavy first half knock in that game and was withdrawn at the break. The duo are a doubt at this stage for the Leinster side’s visit.