Revealed: Tyrone GAA’s bid to regain Division One status begins with away trip

TYRONE’S bid to regain Division One status begins with a National Football League Division Two opener away to Cavan next January.

The provisional fixtures schedule has been circulated to counties, and while some amendments are possible, the Red Hand campaign is clearly laid out in a tough sequence of ties.

Malachy O’Rourke’s side will have four home games and three road trips, with no arduous journey’s facing supporters, whose longest jaunt will be the visit to Breffni Park on day one.

That first round tie will be on Saturday January 23, and is the first of four Ulster derby fixtures in a row.

They will also take on provincial rivals Down, Monaghan and Derry, as well as Leinster trio Dublin, Louth and Wexford.

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Four of Tyrone’s league games will be played under floodlights on Saturday evenings, with the remaining three scheduled for Sunday afternoons.

A number of their opponents will have useful inside information about the Red Hands with Tyrone men installed in the management teams of Division Two sides.

Ciaran Meenagh will once again be in charge of Derry, and included in his backroom team are Marty Boyle, who guided Loughmacrory to a Tyrone SFC title, and Clogher man Martin McConnell.

Gavin Devlin is back for another season as Louth boss, while mickey Donnelly is part of the Down management set-up, and Conor Meyler has joined Wexford’s coaching team.

And three-time All-Ireland winner Ryan McMenamin has joined the Sligo management team for the 2027 season, replacing former Donegal defender Eamon McGee.

McGee had been part of Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O'Hara's backroom team for the 2026 campaign but was unable to commit for the upcoming year.

McMenamin previously managed Fermanagh from 2019 to 2021, and he links up with his former inter-county team-mate Joe McMahon, with whom he won All-Ireland titles as a player in 2005 and 2008, on his move to Sligo.

Tyrone will be keen to improve on last year’s league showing, which saw them finish fifth in the Division Two standings, winning just two of their seven games and drawing one.

But the team showed its true worth with another strong championship showing, running Kerry close in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

The draw for next year’s Ulster Senior Football Championship is due to take place on Thursday November 19, when manager O’Rourke and his squad will begin to focus on the season ahead.

The Tyrone manager has called a number of new recruits into his panel as he prepares to mount a serious challenge in the year ahead, including players who featured in another successful U20 campaign this year, as well as some who impressed in the club championships.

A week after the league opener against Cavan, the Red Hands will host newly promoted Down at O’Neills Healy Park on Saturday January 30, and following a two-week break, there’s a short trip to Clones to take on a Monaghan side that has come down from Division One.

In Round 4, Derry will visit Omagh on Saturday February 20 for another derby encounter. It was the Oak Leafers who came out on top when the sides met this year at Celtic Park.

A week after that, on Saturday February 27, the Dubs will come to town for a high profile tie, having suffered relegation from Division One at the end of last season.

It’s the first of three meetings with Leinster opponents, with another two-week break ahead of the visit to Louth on Sunday March 14, where the Wee County came out on top in last season’s corresponding fixture.

And the seven-game schedule concludes with a home game against newly promoted Wexford on Sunday March 21.

The Division Two league final will take place on the weekend of March 27/28.

And Tyrone U20 manager Paul Devlin has added Dermot Carlin and John McElholm to his management team.

It will be Carlin’s second stint as coach with the U20s, having been involved in the set-up for six seasons, between 2018 and 2023.

He played an important part in guiding the Red Hands to two Ulster titles and an All-Ireland triumph in 2022.

He stepped away at the end of the 2024 seasons due to work commitments, but now returns to a new-look backroom team.

McElholm, father of Tyrone senior star Eoin, is one of the county’s must accomplished coaches, and has worked with a number of clubs,

He was also part of Gabriel Bannigan’s Monaghan coaching team last season.

Carlin and McElholm replace Cathal McCarron and Connor O’Donnell, who have stepped down after three seasons, during which Tyrone won two All-Ireland titles and reached a third successive All-Ireland final.

Devlin was handed a new three-year term as manager last month, which will see him complete 12 seasons in the role when his latest run expires in 2029.

He first took on the job in 2018, and has led Tyrone to six Ulster and three All Ireland titles during that period.

Confirming the appointment of Carlin and McElholm to the management team, Tyrone GAA said: “Carlin, a two-time All-Ireland winner with Tyrone, returns to a setup in which he previously enjoyed considerable success alongside Devlin.

“McElholm brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and experience, having been involved in football at various levels over a number of years.

“Both men will be valuable additions to the setup as preparations begin for the 2027 season. We wish Dermot, John and the entire management team every success in the season ahead.”

Meanwhile, Tyrone Minor champions Eglish have been drawn to face Newry Shamrocks in the fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament.

The draw for the tournament, supported by Belfast City Council, took place at the host club St Paul’s, with an exciting set of fixtures confirmed for the annual competition.

The top Minor sides of the province will compete for he Jimmy McConville Trophy, with the final traditionally taking place on New Year’s Day.

This year’s line-up features a mixture of familiar faces and new challengers.

Who will take part?

Returning champions include Donegal representatives Four Masters and Derry’s Erin’s Own Lavey, while three clubs will make their tournament debuts, with Denn, Aughnamullen and Newtownbutler all securing representation.

The first semi-final will take place on Sunday 20 December, which will be between Aughnamullen/Denn and Four Masters/Portglenone.

The second semi-final is set for the following week, Saturday 26 December where Eglish/Newry Shamrocks face Lavey/Preliminary winners.

The final of the competition will taking place on New Year’s Day.

And Cuthbert Donnelly, who became Tyrone GAA president earlier this year, was formally presented with his President’s Medal, in the company of his family.

A statement from Tyrone GAA said: “The presentation marks a fitting recognition of Cuthbert’s longstanding commitment and distinguished service to Gaelic games throughout Tyrone.

“His dedication, contribution and unwavering support for the Association over many years make him a most deserving recipient of this honour. We extend our warmest congratulations to Cuthbert and his family on this special occasion.”

Tyrone’s NFL Division Two fixtures

(provisional)

Rd 1. Saturday January 23

Cavan v Tyrone

Rd2. Saturday January 30

Tyrone v Down

Rd 3. Sunday February 14

Monaghan v Tyrone

Rd 4. Saturday February 20

Tyrone v Derry

Rd 5. Saturday February 27

Tyrone v Dublin

Rd 6. Sunday March 14

Louth v Tyrone

Rd 7. Sunday March 21

Tyrone v Wexford