Football

Malachy O’Rourke adds All-Ireland winner Chris Lawn to Tyrone backroom team

Moortown man lifted Sam Maguire in 2003 and 2005 and is currently involved with his club’s management

 Chris Lawn and Peter Canavan loft the Sam Maguire Cup in 2005
Chris Lawn and Peter Canavan loft the Sam Maguire Cup in 2005. The Moortown man joins fellow All-Ireland winner Colm McCullagh in Malachy O'Rourke's Tyrone management team

Double All-Ireland winner Chris Lawn has been added to Malachy O’Rourke’s management team as the new boss prepares the ground for a big Tyrone challenge in 2025.

Lawn, a member of the 2003 and 2005 Sam Maguire Cup winning Red Hand sides, joins former team-mate Colm McCullagh in the backroom team of the new boss.

The Moortown man is a member of an elite group who have won All-Irelands as both player and manager, having guided Cookstown to an All-Ireland Club IFC title in 2010.

Lawn is currently a member of the coaching staff at his own club, which will contest a Tyrone IFC semi-final next weekend.

Last week, O’Rourke recruited Dromore’s McCullagh, a member of the Tyrone Sam Maguire Cup winning squads of 2005 and 2008, to the current set-up.

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McCullagh was a county championship winner with Dromore as a player, and also managed his club to a Tyrone SFC title in 2021.

Lawn, a defender, and attacker McCullagh will bring complimentary offerings to the coaching system at Garvaghey.

And, coming from opposite ends of the county, they provide a geographical barometer to the pool of talent available throughout Tyrone.

O’Rourke, who was unveiled as the successor to Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher three weeks ago, will also have Ryan Porter and Leo McBride in his backroom entourage, the pair having been with the Fermanagh native during his time with Monaghan, and more recently with Derry club kingpins Glen, the current All-Ireland champions.

O’Rourke has confirmed that he will remain in charge of Glen until their current championship campaign comes to an end.