By Niall Gartland

A THIRD Ulster and All-Ireland title in four years is the ultimate ambition for the Tyrone u-20s, but manager Paul Devlin always has one eye on the long-term prospects of talented young players coming through the ranks at the Red Hand County.

Tyrone can call upon a sizeable number of last year’s all-conquering panel, including their new captain and vice-captain, Joey Clarke and Callum Daly.

That’s not to mention a certain Eoin McElholm, Man of the Match in last year’s All-Ireland U-20 final, who has accrued significant game-time at senior inter-county level in the last couple of months. For the next while, however, his primary focus will be the u-20s.

It’s something that takes careful consideration, which manager Paul Devlin discussed ahead of next Wednesday’s Ulster Championship group stage opener against Down in Newry.

“Eoin has been with us and he’ll be available next week. It comes down to the desire of the lad himself. Last year Ben Cullen made the call to play for the seniors.

“You have to make the call for the best of the team. I see some teams playing lads in u-20 matches who aren’t otherwise available, and that’s something I wouldn’t do when I’ve been training a group of 32 all year.

“I have to be honest with the lads I have with me. Michael Rafferty and Ronan Cassidy decided last year to stay with the u-20s and they were more than capable of going to the next level.

“Shea O’Hare was the same, he stayed with us for his final year of u-20 football and I think it really stuck to him – as he went on he really excelled and learnt a lot about himself as a player.”

A batch of former minor and u-20 stars have graduated to the senior ranks in recent years, some of whom have developed into an important part of the Tyrone set-up, though quite a number are no longer part of the inter-county circuit.

Asked why that is, Devlin said: “Some lads pick up injuries, they’re stepping into a heavier level of training and gym work. You do see some other lads struggle to step up.

“When I look back to my own playing days, you’re going into the senior set-up as a 22-year-old. Now some lads are 19 going on 20. It’s like the old saying you hear around the Loughshore, the bone has to harden you a wee bit, and maybe that’s an issue. It’s a big step up and takes time to get bedded into senior football.”

Tyrone played some scintillating football en route to last year’s All-Ireland, particularly once the Ulster Championship was in the bag. Devlin says negative football does nothing for him.

“I’ve never been a fan of defensive football. I would never set out to send 15 men behind a ball. I’ve seen some games last year where people were leaving early, it was maybe 0-2 to 0-1 after 25 minutes.

“It’s a game of football – you want to win but it’s got to a stage where coaches seem to be more afraid of losing rather than going out to win.

“You have county managers watching these games, and they want to see the players express themselves or else how are they going to pick them out? U-20 football is a good shop window for the fellas so it’s important they get the chance to shine.”