Allianz HL Division 3A round two

Tyrone v Monaghan

Sunday, Healy Park, Omagh

IT’S a new era for Tyrone as this is the first match of Michael McShane’s tenure – but their opponents Monaghan have freshened things up on the sidelines as well.

There was considerable fanfare when Sleacht Néill boss McShane was announced as the new Tyrone manager, ending months of unease and uncertainty about the vacation position. Naturally enough, the Red Hand hurlers’ immediate goal will be promotion out of Division 3A, something which has narrowly eluded them in recent seasons.

As for Monaghan, Paul Hughes remains at the helm – but he isn’t standing still and has made a couple of big appointments to his backroom team.

At the end of last year, he recruited two Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon stalwarts into the set-up, namely Stephen Donnelly and Cathal McErlean.

Donnelly hurled at centre-back for Eoghan Ruadh and Tyrone for years while McErlean is viewed as the architect behind setting up Dungannon’s youth coaching structure and their subsequent upsurge in playing standards and success.

Their knowledge of Tyrone hurling should come in handy this week, but the Farney men are still the outsiders for this game after what was a pretty lacklustre 2020.

In terms of team news, one not so new face making a return for Monaghan is Brian McGuigan, and the experienced Castleblayney man will bring a real goal threat to the attack. That incoming experience has been negated by the loss of Peter Treanor, who has been a rock for the side down through the years.

New Tyrone manager McShane has brought in a few talented young players, including Eire Og duo Niall McKenna and Anthony McCrossan, and Eoghan Ruadh players Sean Paul McKernan and Mickey Little.

But the big Tyrone news this week is that former Antrim dual star CJ McGourty, who is living in Ardboe, has transferred to the county and is named to start against Antrim.

These two teams met in the Nickey Rackard Cup competition last year, and Tyrone won handy enough by 2-19 to 1-12 (though a late flurry of 1-2 put a little gloss on the final scoreline).

In terms of how today’s game goes, Tyrone are the favourites, have home advantage, and may get a bounce from having a new manager (particularly as one as renowned as McShane). Monaghan will be looking to improve on last year though, so it would be unfair to rule them out entirely.