FORMER Tyrone defender Ciaran Gourley believes players who have stepped away from the squad did not fully appreciate how important they were to the set-up.
Seven men have opted out this year – in the main due to frustration over lack of game time – leaving the Red Hands precariously short on numbers.
Paul Donaghy last week became the latest to join the exodus, following the path taken by Mark Bradley, Ronan O’Neill, Lee Brennan, Tiernan McCann, Hugh Pat McGeary and Michael Cassidy.
“Maybe sometimes people don’t realise the value they have in the team,” said Gourley.
“Talking to people and hearing from the players, they were regarded as valuable players.
“I know myself when you are involved in a large panel of players, it’s difficult to keep everyone happy, I appreciate that.”
Gourley, a treble All-Ireland winner back in the 'Noughties', empathised with the desire of players to throw themselves into the thick of the action.
And with the club season set to begin early next month, some have made a call based on their most realistic chance of getting meaningful game time.
“I can understand that for any player, they want to be playing competitive football.
“And unfortunately, you can only start fifteen on any given day.”
Gourley suggested that opportunities would have arisen for the departed players had they chosen to remain on board.
He believes that a successful impact sub strategy employed by manager Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan last season will continue this year, and open up possibilities for the extended squad.
“If you look at last year, the way that Tyrone used their bench really well at different stages.
“Darragh Canavan, for example, was coming in and finishing games with impact, and now this year he’s starting.
“So somebody has to step into that role to give us something.
“And you would hope that other players that are coming in to replace the boys that have gone will make a difference this year.”
And with others impacted by injuries or loss of form, further opportunities will arise as the season progresses.
“There are other players too that haven’t performed. Granted we were missing players, but players that were getting opportunities maybe just were a wee bit ring-rusty, for whatever reason, it didn’t perform to the level that they showed last year.
“So I think there’s still room for improvement in those players as well.”
Gourley expressed concern that Tyrone’s current strength in depth has been severely diminished as they prepare to begin the defence of their Ulster and All-Ireland titles, with a provincial opener against Fermanagh just over a week away.
“Unfortunately it isn’t (as strong as last year), and you’re losing players that are experienced campaigners.
“But the management can’t do anything about that. Those players make a decision. Players have choices to make, whether they want to commit to it or not, and if they decide to step away, well you have to respect that and move on.
“And that’s what the management will do, they’ll not dwell on it.”
The Rock clubman believes self-belief will be high in the Tyrone camp as they approach the Championship, despite the difficulties they experienced during the League.
“They’ll take great confidence out of what they did last year and they’ll take that into the Championship again.
“I wouldn’t say they came out of nowhere, but they weren’t expected to win an All-Ireland and they did that.
“The League was a wee bit mixed, there were times you would have thought they were going to kick on in a game and it didn’t, especially against Donegal.
“They played really well in the first half but ended up losing that game, and that probably pushed them into the relegation zone.
“So they have plenty of things to work on, but I’m sure the men that are involved there will get them right for the Championship.”
