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Both those players have shown consistent quality in Div 2 over the years. Again had they been playing for a senior team they definitely would have merited a trial/McKenna cup campaign. I could make the same argument for majority of intermediate teams, with their top 2/3 players being there or thereabouts. But that path is closed for too many adult footballers in Tyrone. It is just a lazy recruitment/development policy imo.

I think the idea of a Junior intercounty team would be brilliant but something tells me the purse would be firmly closed on that one.

The point is potential is being missed. I am not saying they are 10+ players in div 2/3 who are being obviously overlooked. The lower Divisions as a whole are not considered by the current set-up for a number of reasons. As pointed out above underage inter-county teams, development squads and schools team all have players from across the divisions. So it is safe to state that at 19-21 we have players who are on the cusp of senior football who all have shown promise and may have the potential to play inter-county football. What happens? A select few (depending on the senior teams needs) of the stand out performers will be called into the senior squad. The rest? Most will go back to their clubs, some will play third level football. A very small number may put in huge performances at university level in Mc Kenna cup games Vs their own county and get the call up. I'm not sure this has happened anyone in Tyrone. Now you are left with the majority who go back to play for their clubs. What is the obvious route to get onto the Tyrone panel? You play for a senior club, perform well in a championship campaign and you will likely get called up. The players who go back to DIV2/3 club are not exposed to the same quality etc so the option of a championship with divisional sides would bridge this gap. This would create a path for players who fall off the ladder to get back to where they want to be. Perfect example being two recent players who have been called back into the squad after time away. Would this have happened had they played for a lower division team? Despite the same effort/ commitment from both players, I don't think so. All hypothetical obviously

Agreed. Last year in Tyrone there were two panel members outside of the senior clubs. That has been reversed slightly due to pomeroy being relegated and call ups from Aghyarn and Galbally. Definitely an issue in Tyrone that if you play for an intermediate or Junior club your only realistic chance of making the county squad is being an outstanding talent at underage and never falling off that ladder. Surely we are missing a trick by seemingly discounting almost 2/3s of our playing population. I know the standard is obviously higher in Div 1 but if you unearthed a player or two every so often from the lower divisions it would make the effort it would take worthwhile. On a separate note, a lot of intermediate and junior players feel a total disconnect from the county team and see them only as a hindrance to getting their own games played.

Ideally Tyrone should have a championship with everyone in. Division 1 clubs can go solo and div 2/3 clubs can combine to field competitive teams. It has proved very effective for keeping standards high and giving more players the opportunity to play at a higher level in several counties. The best example being Kerry. Obviously the idea is fine but the logistics of another competition and rules around teams amalgamating would need to be clear.

Those boundaries seem fair. As far as stopping the fighting, you would need the right manager and back room staff to unite the squad...

All three would be up there. Very hard to select only 15. Mayse and Lafferty have played very little football this year due to soccer contracts.

Why don't you have a go at a select from your area? Be a welcome discussion in comparison to somethings put up here.

Harsh on North Tyrone. Most clubs there struggling for numbers but still ploughing away. Always felt we would benefit from a divisional/amalgamated team. On that though heres my North Tyrone select:

1. Benny Gallen (aghyarn)
2. Brendan Boggs (Owen Roes)
3. Owen Devine (Aghyarn)
4.  Ciaran Mc Glinchey (aghyarn)
5. Ryan Henry (Urney)
6. Ronan Mc Namee (Aghyarn)
7. Brian Mc Garvey (Gortin)
8. Ruairi Gormley (Strabane)
9. Fergal Mc Nulty (Urney)
10. Cathal Mc Shane (Owen Roes)
11. Aidan Mc Sorley (NTS)
12. Kevin Gallagher (NTS)
13. Sean og Mc Aleer (Gortin)
14. Ronan Mc Hugh (Aghyarn)
15. Ryan Mc Shane (Owen Roes)

Tried to get a good spread of clubs.

First time poster but a long time reader of the Tryone threads. How do you see the final playing out? Are Derry really a spent force? A glance at their panel would suggest they are quite young, could possibly cause a shock later in the year?

Tyrone are going well. Very early days. Are any of the new men going to push us over the line as far as AI is concerned? I feel back to back ulster titles would be an unbelievable achievement by any county squad given the parochial nature of our championship. Will this be viewed as a success? I agree with posters on here that the level of expectation is ridiculous.

I have heard that Dublin and obviously Donegal are fielding teams for these pre season competitions that will bare NO resemblance to the teams they play in the league. The "first" teams are hidden away getting prepped for the league, aiming to peak for the latter stages in the summer. Interesting tactic and obviously easy for a County with Dublin's resources. Would it be something Tyrone could adopt? Some of these players (Killyclogher) have been on the go almost 20-24 months. Will this inevitably lead to injury? Although I would say the players themselves are mad to get at it.