TYRONE LADIES BEGIN CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

In the Ulster senior football championship semi-final first leg this weekend, Tyrone face the hotly tipped Armagh  at Mullaghbawn who have had the advantage of two games under their belts already in the competition.. Two comfortable opening round victories over Donegal and many feel they have witnessed real challengers for the Ulster crown. Tyrone manager John McAleer is still positive though despite several squad changes from last years defeat in the final, the humiliation at the hands of Dublin and the fact that Tyrone have not played a competitive game since March.

“ Well, we set the record straight with Dublin twice this year, so that monkey is off our backs now, but being honest we have a lot of new faces in the squad and some of the established players are gone, but there’s no doubting the fact we have not had a competitive game in such a long time could also play a part in this first outing”

 Among those exiting the camp are the veteran former skipper Arlene McCloskey and Carrickmores Lynette Hughes, while off to America are Graiine Kelly, Katriona and Briege Daly, Meave McGurk and Lisa McAliskey. The Tyrone boss says the delay in the championship has a bearing on this exodus across the Atlantic.

“I have no doubt that if the championship came quicker in the year the girls wouldn’t want to leave, but I can’t knock them, they want the experience and we are not in action for over three months”

Others in the county though are not that impressed by the movement of players to America, earlier this year it was pointed out that several clubs from the states were actively recruiting players in the O,Neill county. In light of several clubs also on the brink of pulling out of senior competition its an even more worrying trend.

Tyrone received one welcome boost this week though with news that influential forward and 2006 captain Elish Gormley was set to return to training again after a long term pelvic injury, it’s a timely boost too as they meet a quality Armagh side managed by Hayley Boyle.

Having claimed the All Ireland Junior title in 2005 Armagh have took the step up to the senior ranks and on their showing against Donegal over two games they will be hard to stop.

McAleer, Cunningham and McCallan going ionto the championship with their side tagged as underdogs for the first time in many seasons.

The tag though rests easy with John McAleer,

 “We may be underdogs alright, but I feel if we can get the focus right this week and despite the changes we can give them a game. Monaghan folk have told me they are good, but I know what we have in the locker but we will have to work hard”

McAleer  has done his homework ahead of this tie and he knows the workrate will be vital but freely admits Tyrone will not need much in the way of motivation for the game.

“If our girls can’t raise themselves for an Ulster semi-final, well they shouldn’t be here, Armagh beat us in the league and while they may have improved, so have we, we are all looking forward to getting back into action”

So a new look Tyrone will step into the Ulster championship this Sunday, it will be a keenly contested tussle but with so many absentees and well documented problems in the latter stages of the league campaign will they raise to the heights of last year and at least reach the Ulster final. A decent first leg outing is all that can be hoped for this weekend, before the Greencastle second leg. Tyrones ladies need the success.