Under-20 boss Devlin savours latest provincial triumph

AT the final whistle of a nerve-jangling Ulster Under-20 Championship victory over Donegal, an elated Tyrone manager Paul Devlin proudly held up his hand in celebration, symbolising his fifth provincial triumph at this level.

Last Wednesday’s extra-time victory followed in the footsteps of 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024, an incredible run of results and that’s without throwing two All-Ireland titles into the mix.

Devlin, Dermot McCaughey and Gerard O’Neill have been involved for every single one of those successes, while Diarmaid McNulty, Connor O’Donnell and Cathal McCarron also deserving special mention for their role in securing back-to-back provincial successes as well as last year’s All-Ireland triumph.

Former Tyrone defender Devlin is modest about his own contribution and was keen to emphasise the efforts of his players, but there’s no doubt that winning five Ulster U20 titles as manager is one mighty accomplishment.

Speaking in the direct aftermath of the latest triumph Devlin stated: “Myself, Gerard and Dermot have been there for the five finals but at the end of the day we’re just there doing our bit, and those 30-odd lads will deservedly get their medals at the end of the year.

“We’ll maybe sit back and have a cup of tea and a few biscuits and watch those lads enjoy themselves. It’s a big step in life, coming through their teens into their early twenties, there’s a lot of big decisions to be made and we’re delighted for them all that they’ve won this.”

Not for the first time in their championship-winning campaign, Tyrone came good at the right time, overcoming a somewhat sluggish start early doors. The Red Hands were the better team in the second-half though they couldn’t quite get over the line, and then they made their push at the start of extra-time with three magnificent two-pointers in quick succession.

“When you’re defending champions, people want to hunt you down but I think we did a lot of hunting as well to make sure we got over the line.

“Lads at this level are in great condition, their physicality, their speed, and teams are trying to catch each other out and it’s a minefield.

“We could’ve won it in normal time, Conor O’Neill had a shot that went just wide, and then we’d a great spell at the start of extra-time.

“We knew Donegal were going to rebound, that they weren’t going to go down without a fight, but we got over the line, and it’s great for the lads to have the cup at the front of the bus going back down the road. You can get used to this, that’s the best way of putting it.”