Red Hands return at last

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte insists that his squad must block out any uncertainty around the resumption of their season and prepare as diligently as they can.

The Red Hands come out of cold storage after seven months when they face Donegal in Round Six of the National League on Sunday, the derby tie set to be played behind closed doors at Ballybofey.

Again the prospects of the NFL and subsequent Ulster and All-Ireland Championships getting played had been cast into doubt following the announcement of further sweeping lockdown measures across the north on Wednesday in light of heightened Covid cases.

Tyrone have two key League games to play (away to Donegal and then Mayo) before they face into their massive Championship opener with the Tir Chonnail men on Sunday, October 18th.

It’s the most surreal backdrop to any Championship campaign but from a psychological perspective Harte believes his players can’t afford to cast a glance too far down the line, because of the absence this season of a back door route.

“I think with the Championship being knock-out this year, every day is the final. They have to approach it knowing this might be the last game we’ll get in the Championship, if you don’t do well in that one your season is over.

“It’s a two-fold thing, there’s uncertainty about whether everything will go ahead or not, but we’re quite hopeful that with the proper precautions it will go ahead. So the challenge is to ensure we are part of the season as it goes on rather than sitting looking at it after our first game, that’s something we have to be mindful of.”

FULL STORY IN YESTERDAY’S ULSTER HERALD AND DUNGANNON HERALD