Tyrone manager Clarke upbeat despite absences

Last year Tyrone were narrowly defeated by Antrim in the dying stages of the NWP Recycling Ulster Intermediate Championship. Following a run to the National League Division 4 Semi-Final new manager Jacqui Clarke is encouraging by the progress of her relatively new side.

Clarke insists that there has been no reflection on the last few minutes of the 2013 Final in Owenbeg but instead is upbeat about her sides chances this year despite some absences from her squad before this Sundays Ulster Semi-Final against Down in Stewartstown.

‘We will have a few players missing from the team that started the League Semi-Final unfortunately for a couple of reasons. Between injuries and other factors we’ll maybe have 5 players who played against Limerick not able to play. Niamh McNulty who has been brilliant all year for broke her hand a couple of weeks ago so she is going to miss the game. It will be a bit of change but we it gives other girls who seen plenty of action in the National League an opportunity. Only one of the players who will come in hasn’t seen a while lot of action but the others have come in regularly and in some instances changed games for us. While the changes are forced upon us I have every confidence in the team that will play on Sunday’.

This is Clarke’s first year as manager of Tyrone and this has helped ensure that lingering thoughts of 2013 are hanging around the camp. I don’t think the players will reflect too much on last year because we have a lot of new players in the squad along with a new management who weren’t involved in last year’s championship.

Down senior team have had a great year so far in reaching the National League Division 2 Final and overcoming Antrim in a strong performance in the Ulster Senior Championship in Portglenone two weeks ago. Down are combining their training for both squads which should mean they will be well prepared according to Clarke. ’ We are expecting Down to be strong as their seniors have showed great form so far this year and if they are all training together the Intermediate players will want to stake a claim for the senior squad also so I’m looking forward to a very enjoyable game this weekend’.

NWP Recycling Ulster Intermediate Championship Semi-Final

Sunday 25 ^th May 1pm- Stewartstown

Tyrone v Down