Knockout route for Tyrone teams

IT could be mulled wine rather than champagne if Tyrone lift the Sam Maguire Cup this year after the GAA confirmed that the All-Ireland football final would take place on Saturday, December 19.

The GAA announced their new competitions plan on Friday in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

If Tyrone are to win a fourth All-Ireland title, they will do it the old fashioned way as it has also been decided that the Ulster Championship will be played as a knockout competition with the winners advancing to an All-Ireland semi-final.

The National Football Leagues are also set to be completed and the weekend of October 17/18 will be a busy one for the Red Hand county.

Their u-20 footballers will meet Dublin in the rearranged All-Ireland semi-final (originally set for St Patrick’s Day) while Mickey Harte’s side will travel to Ballybofey to face Donegal in round six of the league.

Meanwhile Tyrone officials remain confident that a season will be salvaged from 2020 as they consult with clubs and plan a draw for their revised league structures tommorow night (Tuesday).

Tyrone PRO Eugene Mc Connell outlined the plans after the Stormont Government brought the six counties into line with the rest of the country allowing club games to commence from July 17th.

FULL STORY IN TODAY’S TYRONE HERALD