The Tyrone Minor ladies are well on their way in terms of preparations for the 2006 Ulster Championship campaign and have stole a march on their competitors by assembling their squad early and in doing so have placed themselves in pole position for an assault on Ulster.

Following a series of trial games prior to Christmas, in which the managers cast their eye over more than eighty players, a provisional squad of thirty-two has been selected to commence preparations for the 2006 campaign.

Under the new management of Ciaran Woods and Michaela O’Neill, the squad will be aiming high for 2006 having experienced the disappointment of an Ulster final loss last season. Woods takes the reins of an inter-county side for the first time, boasting an impressive CV with success with a number of club sides within Tyrone, at schools level in Tyrone with Sacred Heart College and at Universities level with UUJ. A manager with a track record of success and silverware, his services were once again in high demand for the coming year within Tyrone and further afield.

This is also O’Neill’s first venture into management, having only last season retired from the Tyrone Senior Ladies setup after a long and distinguished playing career. Also a Ladies Football Master Tutor, O’Neill brings an unmatchable level of coaching expertise, professionalism and playing experience to the setup.

The squad have impressed in recent challenge games, most recently against Queens University Belfast, and the competition for places within the squad is unbelievably high even at this early stage in the year. Now, the serious preparations commence as the team gears themselves for their Championship opener in April, to begin what they hope will be a long and successful campaign.