Steven Poacher looks at the evolution of Mickey Harte, the teams he has produced over the years, and whether he still has something to offer Tyrone in the modern game.
BY JACK NEVILLE
Tyrone bowed out of the championship last Sunday as they fell to a 1-13 to 1-11 defeat at the hands of Donegal in Ballybofey.
That brought an end to the Red Hands’ campaign at the first hurdle and Mickey Harteโs 18th season in charge.
Ulster Championship:
FULL TIME
Tyrone: 1-11
Donegal: 1-13
Our season ends with a two point defeat in Ballybofey.#Ulster2020 pic.twitter.com/CubJc3dWJn— Tyrone GAA (@TyroneGAALive) November 1, 2020
According to former Carlow and current Down minor coach Steven Poacher, it is time for Harte and his county to part ways to bring some “freshness” into the squad.
โWould a change help Tyrone right now? Iโm going to say yes, I think it would.
“I think a change would give a freshness, give everyone a lift, a boost. Heโs been there a long time. He owes the county nothing.
“He is a remarkable manager. Probably one of the greatest managers of all time.
โMickey will go when he wants to go. And I think that will come out of Tyrone, it will be his decision to go and no one else’s really.
“But I think after 17 years, with the group of players they have coming through, I think a bit of freshness in the management would help Tyrone.โ
Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Donegal v Tyrone in the Ulster Football Championship here on GAANOW!
Full-Time Score:
Donegal: 1-13
Tyrone: 1-11 pic.twitter.com/yppdRrQ09X— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 1, 2020
Harte is Tyroneโs most successful manager and helped the county to their maiden All-Ireland title in 2003, before adding two more in โ05 and โ08.
They did reach the decider in 2018 but lost convincingly to Dublin, with their systematic approach looking somewhat dated in the evolution of high-pressing Gaelic football.
Harte has been a manager in the county for the best part of 30 years as he patrolled the sideline as minor manager before taking over the Under-21s gig prior to his appointment as senior bainisteoir for the 2003 campaign.
Thereโs a very good chance we could all fall in love with Tyrone Football in the 2020s…
Canavan, McShane, McKenna would be some trio to build an attacking game-plan around.
Does Mickey Harte have to leave and allow for a new era to develop? #GAA— Tommy Rooney (@TomasORuanaidh) November 1, 2020
Poacher believes it may be difficult for the man to step away from the team that he has gone through so much with, with little negativity from the players and plenty of growth in recent years.
โItโs hard to argue with his record. Itโs very difficult for someone to step away when itโs ingrained in them.
“There come a time when you know youโve done enough. Iโve yet to see players come out in a negative way.โ
โIn football there is a fine line. What is success? If success is winning All-Irelands, then obviously Mickey hasnโt been successful recently.
“But if you look at the last three years, (All-Ireland final and two semi-finals), as a Down man, I would swap with them. Sometimes we are very quick to say, โhe has to goโ.โ
