Mulligan hits out at Cavanagh’s ’embarrassing’ Harte comments

Former Tyrone forward Owen Mulligan has taken exception with Sean Cavanagh's comments on Mickey Harte which suggest that the Tyrone manager should move on from his role with the football team.

Tyrone were dumped from the All-Ireland senior football championship by Kerry on Sunday after reaching the final during the previous year. The Kingdom will set up a replay of the 2015 final with four-time defending champions Dublin but Cavanagh feels that it may be time for Harte to step down as manager.

"He's been an amazing servant for the county," said Cavanagh on The Sunday Game. "The three All-Ireland titles. But the reality is that the likes of Art McRory and Eugene McKenna were there for a long time before him and did amazing work as well. And there does come a time when that baton has to be passed on. "He's given his life to Tyrone football but there are other guys there. The likes of Fergal Logan, Peter Canavan, Brian Dooher are big names in Tyrone football as well. And the core of that team today won an U-21 title with those guys. Maybe it's time for someone like that in."

Mulligan, who won three All-Ireland titles under Harte, took exception with Cavanagh's remarks in his Paddy Power column and added that the long serving manager is unparalleled in Tyrone management and coaching circles.

"Incredibly, he summed Mickey Harte with just six words. “An amazing servant for the county”. "That was before he introduced the word “but”, and go on to cover it up with positive comments about previous management teams. "Really, is that it Sean? Jesus! I know men that have served committees that are amazing servants for the county. But Harte has no equal in Tyrone management or coaching circles. "He’s delivered 37 trophies in 28 years. 23 of those trophies with the Tyrone Senior team. "Mickey revolutionised the fortunes of county football in Tyrone, and all Sean can offer is six words on him before he went on to humiliate poor Malachy O’Rourke."