Tyrone skipper happy with new boys displays

ALL-IRELAND winning captain Padraig Hampsey led the Tyrone team out in last Friday night’s charity match against Armagh at the Athletic Grounds, and he was delighted to see a whole host of debutants fare well in their first taste of senior inter-county football.

The primary purpose of the challenge match at the Cathedral City was to raise funds towards building a playpark at the Silverbridge Harps’ grounds as a lasting tribute to James Reel, who tragically passed away earlier this year.

But it was also an opportunity for a host of new Red Hand faces to showcase their skills in front of Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher – namely Ryan McCusker, Ryan Coleman, Conor Cush, Niall Devlin, Steve Donaghy, Nathan Donnelly, Liam Nugent, Ciaran Bogue, Ryan Jones, Luke Donnelly and James Garrity.

All of them got game-time on the night and Hampsey was glad that they did well in a reasonably competitive encounter which Tyrone edged by 0-19 to 0-16.

“It was a good opportunity for them to showcase their skills and a lot of them did well. They showed what they can do in the club championship and that’s why they got their chance with Tyrone. Fair play to them and it’s nice to see them getting on well.”

January football awaits as Tyrone get their McKenna Cup campaign away to Cavan on January 11.

The Red Hands have dominated the pre-season competition over the course of the last decade, and Hampsey hopes it will help the team prepare for their upcoming Division One campaign.

“The McKenna Cup has always served Tyrone well down the years. When I first came into the panel that’s where I started playing.

“You get a chance to showcase your skills and hopefully step up to the mark. We’re looking forward to a run of games and it’ll be a nice start to the year.

“It’ll take us a while to get lads back on the pitch, some of them are carrying a few injuries, so it’ll take a while to gel again and it’s nice that the McKenna Cup is there for us to do so. We’ll be heading into the league shortly, it’ll be quick to come around, and we’re looking forward to getting going again.”

Hampsey also said he was happy to earn an All-Star for the second time.

“Look it’s nice to win a second one, and it’s great for the other seven lads. It’s a great achievement for them too. It was a nice way to end the year and it’s a nice award to win.”