Declan Bogue DURING THE WEIRDEST CHAMPIONSHIP of modern times, the Tyrone players made their way to a meeting place ahead of the 2021 Ulster final in Croke Park.
“There are a lot of players who would have been dead keen to see the data flying through on your phone,” he says.When he was a student at St Mary’s in Belfast, McGeary had a hectic schedule.Club football for different teams in Pomeroy Plunketts. Tyrone U21 captain, a few call-ups to the senior squad.And he was working two part-time jobs.The two jobs couldn’t have been more different. From 7am to 4pm, McGeary was down at the yard of a local engineering firm.
He chose both. Went in with two others from Cookstown and set about making it work. Later in 2019, he took a job as a PE Teacher in Holy Trinity, Cookstown. But it came good. More than good. While there is a general sense that rural Ireland is finding the livin’ not so easy, that does not apply in Tyrone. Mid-Tyrone is thriving with established busy pubs and eateries.
“You get insights. You start to understand a coach’s frustration about things that aren’t done right, and then you can understand the gratitude when things are done right,” he says.His own form and that of Tyrone hasn’t been up to the standard of 2021. “But I think the conveyor belt in Tyrone is very healthy. We have a number of new players joined us recently and showed their energy and capabilities.”Back in 2015, Logan was the U21 manager, Brian Dooher his assistant. They picked McGeary to be captain and won the All-Ireland on a memorable night in Parnell Park.
“I know Eileen and the kids very well. It’s tough for them but he has the support of everybody. It puts all into perspective.” A crude imagery has built up around Harte in the last couple of months. Defeats to Donegal, Galway and Armagh has left him open to relentless speculation, spiteful rumour and ill-informed criticism.
“Aw, we did surely. I wouldn’t say we got any less than what we deserved. What we got, we got,” he says.