Tyrone are set for a welcome boost ahead of this weekend’s crunch meeting with Kildare at Healy Park with the news that former All-Star defender Ronan McNamee is in line for a return to the Red Hands.
The Aghyaran clubman hasn’t played an inter-county game since marking Aidan O’Shea in last September’s All-Ireland final victory over Mayo in Croke Park.
However, Tyrone are set to be without three of their first choice defenders for Sunday’s game after the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee upheld the red cards issued during their recent loss to Armagh in the Athletic Grounds.
As it stands, captain Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan and Peter Harte are all suspended along with Footballer of the Year Kieran McGeary after the quartet were sent off by referee David Gough following a melee at the end of the clash with the Orchard County.
Armagh’s Greg McCabe was also dismissed and it is understood his hearing will take place tonight in Croke Park.
Tyrone managers Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher are considering whether or not lodge an appeal against the decision to uphold the dismissals, but the All-Ireland champions are in a race against time to clear the four players in time for Sunday’s game against the Lilywhites.
Appeals can only be successful if there has been a misapplication of the rules by the CHC or if the right to a fair hearing has been compromised.
Tyrone managed to overturn the red card issued to Ronan McNamee in their Ulster Championship win over Cavan last summer, a game that was also refereed by Gough.
The return of McNamee to the squad is a timely shot in the arm for a Tyrone panel which will be stretched to its limits if the potential appeals are unsuccessful.
After the defeat to Armagh, Logan indicated that McNamee would be in line for a return against Glenn Ryan’s side and, with so few options at their disposal, it seems likely he’ll be used against Kildare.
Conor McKenna, who was introduced as a late substitute against Armagh, could also be in line for a return to the starting line-up should the Tyrone defence require a major restructure.
Mattie Donnelly and Niall Sludden have experience of playing in the half-back line and could drop back with Frank Burns likely to join the full-back line.
As well as losing the aforementioned quartet, five Tyrone players stepped away from the panel at the beginning of the season, including defenders Tiernan McCann, Hugh Pat McGeary and Michael Cassidy.
Attackers Ronan O’Neill and Mark Bradley also departed ahead of the start of the 2022 campaign.
Tyrone are still searching for their first win this season following two defeats in the pre-season McKenna Cup while they drew with Monaghan in their Division One opener before the six-point loss to Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh.
