Tyrone legend eyeing 10th All-Ireland medal at 43 years of age
'Masters football is enjoyable and it’s a good day out with all the youngsters there and it’s just a good family occasion.'
Tyrone legend Stephen O’Neill is eyeing a 10th All-Ireland medal as the Red Hands take on Roscommon in tomorrow’s masters final at Breffni Park.
Tyrone have dominated the competition in recent years and are bidding for their fourth title on the spin, with O’Neill and Conor Gormley among the standout names from the county’s three-time All-Ireland winning side of the 2000s.
Having also won a minor and two under-21 titles, another masters crown would bring O’Neill’s Celtic Cross count into double figures.
READ MORE: Tyrone hero says Malachy O'Rourke appointment is 'stunning' and 'brave'
READ MORE: Malachy O'Rourke on why he took the Tyrone job, his Glen future and links with Derry
He said: “I’m looking forward to the final on Saturday as it’s a big occasion for the players as well as their families.
“Masters football is enjoyable and it’s a good day out with all the youngsters there and it’s just a good family occasion. It’s a wee bit more relaxed than club and county championship games as you can enjoy it more and it keeps older people like myself involved in the game.
“You get to play with boys that you played with for years as well as boys that you played against and there is a great camaraderie within the whole group.
“You need fresh legs and men that are coming 39, 40 or 41 to revitalise the squad every year. It’s good to have them as they add that bit of freshness and pace to the team. We have a well balanced team and anybody that comes off the bench is playing their part as well.”
Tyrone are managed by Joe Leonard, along with his sons Damian and Kieran, and O’Neill, now 43, added: “The management team are very enthusiastic and they keep driving things on and their training is tough, they are good people to be involved with and they will have us well prepared for Roscommon and hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves.
“The fact that the final is at a venue like Breffni Park helps raise the profile of masters football even more. There will be boys playing there for the first time and it’s a great venue with a brilliant atmosphere at it and a great surface and it’s nice to be back there again having played Dublin in the semi-final there last season.”
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
