If Tyrone are to capture their first All-Ireland in over a decade this summer, they will have to do so without any divine inspiration it would seem.
Mickey Harte and his selectors have taken the decision to allow youngsters Darragh Canavan, the son of Red Hand great Peter, and Killyclougher's young starlet Matthew Murnaghan concentrate on playing at their relative age group for the year.
Canavan the younger made headlines at the tail end of last year when he made his competitive Senior debut for the three-time All-Ireland winners in a Dr McKenna Cup game against Derry at Celtic Park, scoring a point in the process of Harte's side coming away with a nine-point victory, before playing time curtailed towards the business end of the league.
Should Paul Devlin's U20 side make up for a lean few years in the U20 Championship and go deep into this year's tournament, they face the potential of sealing an All-Ireland final berth in early August, that would in effect rule out any participation with the Senior side until the semi-final stages of that championship.
Tyrone will play host to NFL Division Four champions Derry in the preliminary round of the Ulster Senior Championship in just over a fortnight's time at Healy Park.
Mac a dhaide ! Cúl den scoth ag Dara Canavan ! @TyroneGAALive @RoscommonGAA @TG4TV @officialgaa pic.twitter.com/6rFKzilCoi
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 27, 2017
Canavan picked up the man of the match award after scoring a tasty goal in the 2017 U17 All-Ireland final win over Roscommon.
His legendary father picked up two winners medals in the noughties, becoming the first captain to bring Sam Maguire to the O'Neill County after dispatching neighbours Armagh in 2003 before bagging a goal in the 2005 win over Kerry.
Murnaghan played a pivotal role in helping his club to a county final in 2018 where the St Mary's outfit were beaten by Coalisland Na Fianna.
