GAA: All-Ireland champions Tyrone are gearing up for their National Football League opener against Dublin at Croke Park this Saturday with manager Mickey Harte naming his entire 2008 winning panel in a 37-strong squad.
The manager has introduced five new players to the panel with Stewartstown’s Gareth Devlin and Omagh's Jason McAnulla providing more attacking options.
Augher midfielder Aidan Cassidy also come in alongside last year’s under-21 captain Seán O’Neill from Dromore and Killyclogher's Martin Swift in defence.
A number of established players are included but will miss the opening stages of the game through injury or travel commitments. Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan, Pascal McConnell, Damien McCaul and Ciaran Gourley are all currently injured, while Dermot Carlin is currently in Australia.
Tyrone's influential Brian McGuigan admitted that Tyrone have been complacent following past All-Ireland successes. They lifted the Sam Maguire 2003, 2005 and 2008 but never in consecutive years.
"In the years we won the All-Ireland, the year after we kind of took our foot of the pedal - we were in the comfort zone and hadn't put in the effort that we had the year before," said McGuigan at the yesterday’s league launch.
"But this year, you can see that even when we were away on holidays, a lot of the boys were even training. Even the likes of Stephen O'Neill was back home Christmas Day training. The likes of Stephen have put in a massive effort and are chomping at the bit to get in," added the 29-year-old.
The Ardboe clubman is unlikely to feature in Saturday’s Croke Park opener.
"I had an operation just before Christmas and I was given a timescale,” he said. “I'll train a bit this week and see what way it is but maybe when the second or third game happens, I'll see how I am. I've done rehab and my ankle seems strong.
"Saturday night's a big occasion - 125 years of the GAA - and you want to be there, but you have to think of yourself and maybe it has come a bit early."
Tyrone 2009 NFL squad:
Aidan Cassidy (Augher), Brian Dooher (Clann na nGael), Brian McGuigan (Ardboe), Cathal McCarron (Dromore), Ciaran Gourley (Carrickmore), Colin Holmes (Armagh Harps), Colm Cavanagh (Moy), Colm McCullagh (Dromore), Conor Gormley (Carrickmore), Damian McCaul (Donaghmore), Davy Harte (Errigal Ciaran), Dermot Carlin (Killyclogher), Enda McGinley (Errigal Ciaran), Gareth Devlin (Stewartstown), Jason McAnulla (Omagh), John Devine (Errigal Ciaran), Jonathan Curran (Coalisland), Joe McMahon (Omagh ), Justin McMahon (Omagh), Kevin Hughes (Killeeshil), Martin Penrose (Aghyaran), Martin Swift (Killyclogher), Michael McGee (Loughmacrory), Niall Gormley (Trillick), Owen Mulligan (Cookstown), P J Quinn (Moortown), Pascal McConnell (Newtownstewart), Peter Donnelly (Coalisland), Philip Jordan (Moy), Raymond Mulgrew (Cookstown), Ryan McMenamin (Dromore), Ryan Mellon (Moy), Sean Cavanagh (Moy), Sean O'Neill (Dromore), Shaun O'Neill (Dromore), Stephen O'Neill (Clann na nGael), Tommy McGuigan (Ardboe).