Tyrone accept Stormont invitation

THE NATIONALIST community was angered last September when DUP Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Gregory Campbell deemed last year's All-Ireland final as an "international" event but any lingering resentment on this issue should be dissolved by next month's special reception for the Tyrone footballers in the Grand Hall at Stormont parliament buildings.

The Tyrone senior and minor All-Ireland winning panels have been invited to Stormont on February 6th as guests of honour at an official reception, hosted by Campbell, to recognise their success in 2008.

The Armagh and Tyrone teams attended Stormont in similar capacities after their breakthrough All-Ireland titles in 2002 and 2003.

This event was supposed to take place back in November but the Tyrone players were unavailable and while "the invitation does appear terribly late, this is the next available date from Gregory Campbell's office", said full-time Tyrone secretary Dominic McCaughey.

"We haven't received the invitations yet but do intend on going," continued McCaughey. "We attended in 2003 along with the Down minors. That was a big enough occasion as it was the first time teams went up there."

There was a mild political furore after Tyrone captured a third All-Ireland in five years when Campbell made the following comments: "I passed on my best wishes to the Tyrone GAA football team, which obviously is a Northern Ireland team, in their victory over Kerry GAA team from the Republic of Ireland in the GAA football final.

"It is a factual position that Tyrone is a county in Northern Ireland and Kerry is a county in the Republic of Ireland. This year's GAA final amounted to an "international" event. In any international tournament involving a team from Northern Ireland competing with a team from another country, I normally support the team representing Northern Ireland.

"I acknowledge that the GAA as an organisation has made improvements; however there are other areas were they have still much to do."

Did the initial comments by Minister Campbell have any effect on the Tyrone camp? "Not in the least," said McCaughey. "It upset (Sinn Féin West Tyrone assembly member) Barry McElduff. The way it is up here is one man says something, another man says another. It is just political points scoring." The Sam Maguire and Tommy Markham Cups will be paraded around Stormont from 6.30pm on Friday, February 6th.

Meanwhile, the Tyrone county board were able to report a surplus of €110,550 for the 2008 season. They also believe the Special Congress decision to ban inter-county training in November and December saved them €13,265.

"That figure would encompass travelling expenses and meals to all of the players, and all of those little things help," said county board chairman Pat Darcy, but funding in the coming 12 months from Club Tyrone is under threat due to the economic downturn.

"We're dependent on Club Tyrone and sponsorship very much but we'll have to work hard on that too because a lot of Club Tyrone people are in the building and construction industry so we will have to see how that pans out over the year.

"Croke Park have put out a warning to expect tight times this year and that will filter down to counties and clubs.

"Everybody will have to look at costs and county teams are very costly items and are major items of expenditure.

"Cutting panels to 24 for the National League will help and the two closed months of November and December brought savings to us already."

Looking ahead to on-field matters, Darcy is optimistic Tyrone can launch successful defences of their All-Ireland senior and minor football titles.

Darcy added: "We're very honoured to have the Tommy Markham and Sam Maguire Cups in the 125th year of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Mickey Harte has said that he wants to win back-to-back All-Ireland and touch wood, everything goes well."

Limerick senior hurling champions Adare will reveal the captain of the county's senior hurling team in the next week, with Mark Foley favourite to retain the position. Last year's captain Foley, forward Donncha Sheehan and dynamic midfielder Wayne McNamara are the contenders.