Gaelic Games

McGinley hoping Tyrone’s young tyros can emulate the team of ’98

Impressive Ulster champions can expect a formidable challenge from Meath

Tyrone’s Ronan Strain in action against Cork’s Alan Kelleher during the All-Ireland minor semi-final at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, Tullamore. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Paul Keane
Sat Aug 28 2021 - 00:05

All-Ireland MFC final –Meath v Tyrone, Croke Park, 1pm . Live on TG4

Tyrone great Enda McGinley reckons the Red Hands always knew they'd have to beat Meath to win the Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football title.

Tyrone streaked through Ulster with 53 points to spare before demolishing Cork by 14 points in the semi-final last weekend.

As for Cathal O Bric's Meath, they retained the Leinster title with a big final win over Dublin and then took out Connacht winners Sligo last Saturday.

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Former All-Ireland minor winner McGinley said: “From reading the media and chatting to some of the lads in Tyrone, I think Tyrone were very aware of this Meath team from a good way out.

“They’d picked up that Meath were a very significant team in Leinster and it’s played out that they’ll meet Meath in the final. I don’t think that will come as a huge shock to Tyrone, the top teams always seem to have a way of finding out about each other.”

McGinley was part of Mickey Harte's star-studded Tyrone minor team that won in 1998. Stephen O'Neill, Owen Mulligan and Brian McGuigan also graduated from that team to famously win three All-Ireland senior titles in the 2000s.

Current Antrim senior boss McGinley is optimistic about the future for many of the current Tyrone minors.

Ronan Cassidy, Eoin McElholm and captain Cormac Devlin have scored heavily while their defence has conceded just nine points per game on average.

McGinley said: “They’re really, really miserly at the back and yet they have an attacking flair – it’s an exciting combination.

“If you play a pretty open and attacking game, it generally demands a massive level of communication and responsibility and game awareness. Players have to know when to attack and when to provide cover, there’s a constant interchange there.

“For that all to work as well as it has for Tyrone shows they’re a pretty mature group.”

Powerful midfielder

McGinley has been impressed by powerful midfielder Ruairí McHugh, skipper Devlin and defender Michael Rafferty.

Tyrone's bench has been consistently strong too with Conor Owens returning 0-1, 0-4, 1-1 and 0-4 tallies as an impact sub in their four games so far.

McGinley would love Ger Donnelly’s young Red Hands to experience the joy of All-Ireland minor success, just like he did in 1998.

“I got a goal in the ’98 final into the old Canal End. There was a big contingent of Tyrone fans there and I ended up right against the endline after scoring. I remember screaming out loud in celebration and literally not being able to hear myself. I was blown away by the noise of the crowd. It’s a brilliant memory that I never forgot.”

Tyrone will have plenty of support again because the minor final precedes the senior semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry.

“I would be expecting the vast majority of Tyrone supporters will come early and watch both games. That’s something that can help the team but it can also bring pressure too. There will be a lot of noise and the players will be experiencing Croke Park for the first time,” he added.

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