Cavanagh admits 'Ulster will be tough to crack'
Sean Cavanagh
As his side prepare for their Ulster SFC opener against Down this weekend, Tyrone midfielder Sean Cavanagh knows that expectations are high as they try to replicate last year's Anglo Celt Cup success.
"At the minute things are going well for us and most of the guys will be available for Sunday," said Cavanagh.
"I suppose looking at Ulster, five or six teams can win the Anglo Celt Cup this year.
"Based on league form alone the likes of Donegal and Derry rose to the top but you can never write off the Tyrones or Armaghs of this world either.
"We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that we'll be there on Ulster final day and hopefully build on that and build on last year's championship."
Cavanagh believes that Tyrone are positioned in the toughest of the four provinces, but a good run in Ulster could tee Mickey Harte's men up nicely for a long summer's campaign.
"If you can manage to get out of Ulster, having had a few tough games under your belt, it always helps going into the All-Ireland stages," the 25-year-old said.
"Hopefully we can get a couple of tight games under our belts and get through the Ulster minefield and then build towards an All-Ireland title.
"Hopefully we can give the likes of the Kerrys and Dublins of this world a good run for their money this year."
The focus of the Ulster football fraternity will be on Omagh this Sunday where Tyrone welcome Down to Healy Park. Cavanagh is happy that Ulster SFC action is returning to the venue.
"It's nice (to be playing there). The last few games for us there wouldn't have been as good as we would have liked although we have ground out results."
Cavanagh believes that counties like Down have started to take a leaf out of Tyrone's book, by treating the Dr. McKenna Cup serious.
Last January the Mourne side were victorious in the competition.
"It's been a bit different for ourselves this year, because at the start of the year we have been flying, and maybe levelled off a bit when we needed the freshness at the height of summer," Cavanagh said.
"Hopefully this year Down can have their McKenna Cup and we can peak at the height during June to August and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that it pans out that way."
The Moy clubman reckons that with the return of playmaker Brian McGuigan from injury and the influx of young talent into the squad, the Red Hands are primed to mount another assault for championship silverware.
"The big thing was seeing Brian McGuigan get through his first full game, against Mayo at Healy Park in our last league game," he explained.
"That's given our team a huge boost and hopefully now the lads can build on that.
"The team has been bonding well in the last few weeks and probably it's been going as well as in the last five, six or seven years. Things have been going well and hopefully we can peak on the day."
