PADRAIG Hampsey will lead Tyrone as captain for the 2021 season, Gaelic Life can confirm.

The Coalisland star was part of the Tyrone U21 team which won the All-Ireland Championship in 2015 under the new senior management of Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan. He also previously skippered the Tyrone minor team, and captains his club team Coalisland Na Fianna.

Hampsey is widely regarded as one of the best players in the country and won an All-Star for a string of fine performances as Tyrone reached the All-Ireland final in 2018. He was particularly impressive in the All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin, and was officially named as the Red Hands best performer on the day at their banquet that night.

Mattie Donnelly held the captain’s armband for three years and remains a vitally part of the Tyrone team, even though Logan and Dooher e decided to pass the reins to Hamspey.

Hampsey will now lead Tyrone out as captain in Tyrone’s league opener against Donegal at Healy Park tomorrow.