The 2019 season beginning in December 2018.
You wouldn’t get it anywhere else and though it seems like something we should be complaining about, we might just be better off to have these pre-season games out of the way in the new year when the more important outings need space.
Always look on the bright side and this time around, the loyal followers of Tyrone and Kildare don’t need to be told that.
Both counties were beginning their 2019 seasons of a wintry Thursday night but not even the chilly weather nor the confusion of it all could stop them dreaming great dreams about the possibility and the potential that announced itself in their forward lines that very night.
One in Celtic Park and one in the Faithful fields.
We’ll start off in Derry.
Tyrone travelled further up Ulster to take on Derry in their McKenna Cup first round and their supporters met road with high hopes.
Mickey Harte says nothing less than another All-Ireland final final appearance will do this year and they believe their holy man too because he has a messiah in his ranks.
The son of God is another for name him up there and the saviour, this time, has arrived a couple of days early.
The expectations for Darragh Canavan are huge but not because he’s his father’s son. Because he’s been lighting it up for Errigal Ciaran ever since he was big enough and for Tyrone ever since he was old enough.
The son of God appearing at Christmas time. https://t.co/jdnh7htY1e
— Niall McCoy (@McCoyNiall) December 20, 2018
Scoring goals like this one in an All-Ireland final.
Mac a dhaide ! Cúl den scoth ag Dara Canavan ! @TyroneGAALive @RoscommonGAA @TG4TV @officialgaa pic.twitter.com/6rFKzilCoi
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 27, 2017
Usually they try and talk down a rising talent to keep the pressure from his shoulders but Peter Harte couldn’t do that during the week. He didn’t want to lie.
So, Tyrone are beating Derry and then on 45 minutes, Canavan springs from the bench and straight into the action. He kicks a point that makes the journey worthwhile for everyone as Tyrone go on to win by 0-20 to 0-11.
B.O.I. Dr Mc Kenna Cup 2019
Tyrone: 0.19 (19)
Derry: 0.11 (11)
Darragh Canavan becomes the 11th Tyrone player to score tonight with a great pt from play@BankofIrelandUK #BoiMcKennaCup @UlsterGAA— Tyrone GAA (@TyroneGAALive) December 20, 2018
Canavan wasn’t the only great white hope to start his journey. Another 18-year-old in Killyclogher’s Matthew Murnaghan made his debut too, replacing club mate Tiernan McCann in the second.
A lovely start to 2019 for Tyrone. Too soon?
Down the country in Kilcormac/Killoughey and there was another new beginning. This one wasn’t as inspired as John Maughan’s Offaly got off to a sobering 1-20 to 0-11 defeat to the Lilywhites but it was a different story for Kildare.
Jimmy Hyland has been talked about for a while ever since he was the best player under the age of 21 in Ireland last year and his impact on the senior scene has been similarly snappy.
Last Friday, he lorded it over Carlow and he was still on song six days later. He kicked six of the finest before having to be taken off with a slight hamstring problem before the clock struck 40, this lad doesn’t wait around.
Hopefully that hamstring heels quick. Kildare are buzzing with their marquee forward.
https://twitter.com/FanzoneKildare/status/1075852927829508103
That's enough for Jimmy Hyland. Wrap the lad up and let him loose when the league starts. #starman
— John Egan (@Kildarejohn) December 20, 2018
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