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Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tyrone Minors could lose Ulster Final hero to Premier League club for All-Ireland bid
Tyrone may be without their ace marksman Joel Kerr in their bid to capture the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship title. Kerr, who lifted the Man of the Match accolade following Tyrone's Ulster Minor Final win over Cavan at the weekend, is set to join Premier League side West Ham United this summer. In scoring 1-2 against Cavan, as well as proving the architect of other scores, Kerr left an indelible imprint on the game and will be viewed as a big loss to the Tyrone Minor side just now. Manager Gerrard Donnelly acknowledges the fact that Kerr's skills could take him down a different sporting avenue but it remains to be seen just what path his career takes. His marksmanship underpinned Tyrone's win over Cavan but it was the manner in which he created one of Tyrone's two goals that underlined his sublime creativity and skills. In the early stages of the second-half, Kerr led a counter-attack from close to his own team's posts in which he carried the ball the full length of the pitch before slipping a pass to Cathal Farey, who fired in the team's second goal. With the Ulster Minor and Under-20 titles now under their belts, Tyrone are setting their sights on even more success. Manager Paul Devlin, who gave outstanding service to the Red Hands as a senior player, has overseen the county's recent dominance of the Under-20 sector at provincial level and believes that several current under-age players have the potential to achieve success at the top level.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gary Haveron makes his feelings known as Nathan Rooney returns as Larne manager
Gary Haveron has let his feelings be known after he vacated his role as Larne manager to allow Nathan Rooney to return to the position. Haveron took over the reins at Inver Park after the newly-appointed Rooney was found not to have the necessary licence to allow him to lead Larne in the UEFA Conference League despite being appointed as Tiernan Lynch's successor just three weeks earlier. Rooney was then installed as the club's head of football with Haveron moving into the managerial position as he led the Invermen to a second placed finish in the Irish Premiership. READ MORE: Watch: West Ham prospect sets up wonder goal for Tyrone in Ulster Minor final READ MORE: Jonny Evans bids emotional farewell to Manchester United as wife Helen shares heartfelt tribute Englishman Rooney has since been enrolled on to his Pro Licence course which allows him to return to his original role with Haveron only too happy to step aside. "I have no doubt Nathan will be a top manager for this club and that there are good times ahead," said Haveron, who will become Rooney's assistant once more. "I have always said that I am hereto do whatever the club needs me to and, truth be told, I am delighted to be moving back into my role as assistant manager, something I feel I am well suited to. "Nathan and myself have built a strong relationship over the last six months and I'm really looking forward to continue learning from him, as well as working alongside the rest of the coaching staff at the club." Rooney, who arrived at Inver Park from Gibraltar side Bruno's Magpies, paid tribute to Haveron. "I want to express my thanks to Gary Haveron who has been a great professional to work alongside and his work ethic to keep pushing the team has been second to none – I thank him for his support throughout this period," he said. "Gary will continue to play a major role as an experienced professional who is highly thought of in the local area and the Irish Premiership. "It has been a period of change for us all, including our amazing fanbase, who has continued to bring the noise and energy to every matchday since my arrival "Our job now is to hit the ground running in pre-season, develop our younger players, implement a playing style which can be exciting to watch and provide an energy which brings us all together on and off the pitch and we will see where it takes us."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Donnelly salutes character of his side after semi-final win
Tyrone are back in an Ulster Minor championship final after they got the better of Monaghan in an enthralling battle at Healy Park in Omagh on Saturday evening. It was a thrill a minute spectacle between two well drilled teams with the Ulster Minor league winners making up for defeats at the same stage of the competition in the last two seasons. It was the one stage of the competition that there was jeopardy as there was no second chance for the losers and Red Hands manager Gerard Donnelly admitted that it was a crucial victory for that point alone. 'That's important– Damian McErlain (Derry manager) said last year up in Owenbeg after they'd beaten us that this is the game you target– there's no doubt that we want to win the Ulster final but it's good to have that safety net,' admitted Gerard. 'That was a really good Monaghan team, they'd a brilliant win over Armagh in the quarter final and we knew it was going to be tough. "It was a rollercoaster of emotions, we'd a great start, then next thing we knew, it was a draw at half-time. "Halftime probably came at the right time for us as they were on top and it gave us an opportunity to press the reset button.' Tyrone raced into a nine point lead by the end of the opening quarter but they were pegged back by the visitors who scored two goals to leave it level at halftime. A third Monaghan goal had them in front for the first time in the 42nd minute but it was at that stage that Tyrone really demonstrated the character within this group of players. They took the game by the scruff of the neck and this time around there was no way back for Monaghan. 'Monaghan got a grip on things again, and our lads dug deep and I've told them that I'm so proud of the last fifteen minutes, it was just awesome,' said Gerard. 'You have to remember these lads are 15-17 years of age, you can plan all you want but they are children and they had to find a way of winning that game thee today. "We got nothing easy, and we fell short at this hurdle the last two years, so thank God we came through it. "The effort was brilliant, we lost more ball than we'd have liked but you definitely can't fault the effort. "At the end of the day our boys didn't want to lose against Monaghan, they showed how much they wanted this chance of an Ulster title. "Yes there were mistakes and things we need to be doing better, but we're delighted to have won.' Next up is the decider against Cavan at Brewster Park in Enniskillen this Sunday afternoon (5.15pm). Tyrone may have already beaten them in the league semi final as well as the championship quarter final but Gerard knows that will count for little this time around. 'Cavan are a damn good team,' he said. 'They beat a fancied Donegal side so that shows what they are made of and there is no doubt that they will be a tough test for us but it's really important for our boys to have made an Ulster final so we're really looking forward to it.'
