Donnelly facing intensive rehab programme to regain fitness for Tyrone’s Championship opener

MATTIE Donnelly’s probabilities of being match to face Fermanagh in Tyrone’s Ulster Championship opener on Saturday April 16 week relaxation on the success of an intensive rehab programme, joint supervisor Feargal Logan revealed final evening.

The former group captain lasted little greater than 10 minutes after approaching as a sub within the concluding League recreation towards Kerry.

He had been tentatively working his means again to health following a shoulder damage, however this newest setback might rule him out of the preliminary spherical journey to Enniskillen.

“Mattie has a hamstring damage and he’s working laborious as you’ll count on,” stated Logan.

“You know his model, he’s rehab, rehab, rehab, and he’s working as laborious as he can to get all the pieces sorted out.”

Peter Harte, one of many Red Hands’ excellent performers in the course of the League, underwent an appendicitis operation final week, however Logan expects him to be match to face the Erne males.

Allstar midfielder Brian Kennedy missed the win over Kerry as a consequence of a leg damage, however he too is anticipated to be prepared for Tyrone’s first defence of their Ulster and All-Ireland titles.

“Brian had a minor sufficient niggle and he was unfortunate in that he had a gasoline and took a couple of stitches, which was an unfortunate damage.

“But we hope that Brian can be on full type.”

Michael O’Neill missed the complete League as a consequence of an belly drawback, however is again in full coaching and in competition for recreation time at Brewster Park.

“Michael could be very shut. He’s again up and at it, full coaching, full enjoying, so it’s a matter of competitors for locations, however he’s again.

“It’s certainly one of these normal belly, pelvic issues that occur to gamers once they practice laborious.”

Logan performed down hypothesis that he and Brian Dooher might name up a handful of members of the U20 squad in a bid to replenish numbers following the departure of seven gamers.

The Tyrone U20s face Donegal within the Ulster semi-final on Friday evening.

“We need to work with what we’ve right here, and that’s the basics of life,” stated Logan.

“We have a very good squad of footballers with critical ambition, and we’d count on them to do effectively as a gaggle.

“I believe it’s greatest for them typically, and in equity to Paul and Owen and Dermie, and for their very own participant growth, and for the integrity of that competitors, I believe it’s greatest that they play with the U20s.

“We hope that they’ll go the total means, and there’s no stress on that means in any respect. We’re simply eager to say that they take to each other and have a very good run, after which we’ll see. And that may develop these younger lads as gamers.”