With Errigal Ciaran’s season set to stretch to one more week at least following the postponement of their semi-final meeting with Dr Crokes, new Tyrone manager Malachy O’Rourke faces a dilemma with the new county season fast approaching.

Last year, Errigal Ciaran had five players on the county panel including the Canavan brothers Darragh and Ruairi and Peter Harte, who captained the Red Hands in 2024.

O’Rourke, an adopted Errigal Ciaran clubman himself, might wish to add a few more players from the Dunmoyle club to the county set up in the coming weeks.

Read more: Mixed news for Tyrone as key player ruled out of opening League games

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Errigal’s prolonged club season has given O’Rourke the first major quandary of his Tyrone tenure.

With a few Ulster derbies to start Division One, when will he reintroduce Errigal Ciaran contingent to the county panel?

Ironically, O’Rourke was on the other side of the argument one year ago having led Glen to All-Ireland Club success.

Less than one week later, Conor Glass, Ciaran McFaul and Ethan Doherty played in the League opener against Kerry in Tralee with Derry, then managed by Mickey Harte, also of Errigal Ciaran, coming away with a 0-15 to 2-8 win.

The Oak Leafers won the battle, but their season imploded after they won the Division One title with Harte stepping down and Derry appointing Paddy Tally as his successor.

Derry are the visitors to O’Neills Healy Park on Saturday, January 25. In the context of what looks an extremely difficult fixture list for both counties, it already looks like a ‘must-win’ for Tyrone and Derry.

The Red Hands have four games on the road and their two remaining home games sees them face Dublin and Kerry in Omagh.

Derry also have four away games and finish with a trip to the Box-It Athletic Grounds to face All-Ireland champions Armagh in Round Seven.

It already seems unlikely that Tyrone's Errigal players will feature in the first round game against Derry, but Tyrone then travel to the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Sunday, February 2 for a battle against All-Ireland champions Armagh.

If Tyrone are to avoid yet another relegation dogfight this season, securing points in their opening two games is a must.

O’Rourke will be wary of putting too much pressure on the Errigal players, especially as they had a replay in the Tyrone Championship and also played an extra game in Ulster having come through the preliminary round.

Ruairi Canavan will also try and win a second Sigerson Cup title with Ulster University in the coming weeks.

It is a fine balancing act for the new Tyrone boss, especially given the fact that it is Errigal Ciaran involved.

A victory over Dr Crokes would see Enda McGinley’s men feature in the All-Ireland Club final on Sunday, February 26 and would probably make up O’Rourke’s mind in any case. That would be a win-win scenario for all in Tyrone.

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