By Barry O’Donnell

TRILLICK manager Nigel Seaney has stressed that the absence of the side’s county contingent will not be used as a convenient excuse to explain any possible downturn in performances.

The Reds made light of having its Tyrone stars watching on from the sidelines last time out when beating Division One high-flyers Coalisland in a Starred game.

Three early first half goals from Niall Gormley, Ryan Gray and Lee Brennan (who recently quit the Tyrone set-up) laid the platform for a comfortable St Macartan’s victory over the Fianna, who themselves had to field without Padraig Hampsey and Michael McKernan.

Trillick have struggled in the past when the Donnelly and Brennan brothers have been forced to sit out Starred games but Nigel Seaney was delighted with the manner of their display, especially in the first half.

“ The performance was the big thing. We have always had difficulties during the Starred games but you really don’t want your players to use that as an excuse. You want them to perform to their capabilities.

“If you are beaten all well and good but we displayed plenty of energy and commitment and no little quality which is in the side.

“Just because there is a number of county boys not here, that shouldn’t determine how we fare over the summer.”

The Reds make the long trek east to the ‘shore’ this Sunday afternoon to face Ardboe in another Starred encounter but Seaney, who guided Trillick to the Senior Championship title in 2015, isn’t complaining about having to do so again without some of their stellar names.

“Starred games are a test of any team’s resources.

“We have been trying to add depth to our squad now this past three or four years.

“We have brought a lot of Minors into our Reserve team.

“The flip side is that it gives young players early exposure to Senior football. If you have good young Reserves coming through who are guaranteed summer football with the Seniors there is a definite benefit to it. It gives them a chance to gain a bit of experience.”

Trillick have secured nine points from their seven league matches to date and sit fifth in the table. Seaney was pleased that they got the show back on the road against Coalisland having disappointed in their previous outing

“Against Omagh we were very poor in the first half. The boys knew that themselves. They responded in the second half but it wasn’t enough. They trained really well over the next two weeks off the back of that. You then saw the evidence of that against Coalisland.

“We played great football in the first 15/20 minutes. We know that is in the locker. We were very good.”

Ultimately and perhaps unfairly one fixture will determine whether Trillick’s season is deemed a success or not, their much anticipated Senior Championship first round derby blockbuster with Dromore. For now though Seaney is placing his thoughts on that contest very much on the backburner.

“We always break up the season into different stages. The first aim is to get points on the board in the first five league games. Then we look to manage the Starred games and then you would plan for the Championship. At the minute it’s far to early to do that. You just don’t know who will be about, what injuries you might have, or what way you are performing. We will look at that far down the line.

“We have nine points down, the first aim is to get ten on the board as soon as possible. I am happy enough with where we are at at the moment.”