O'Neill joins U20s management team

TYRONE legend Stephen O’Neill has joined Paul Devlin’s U20 management team ahead of another push for major honours in 2026.

The Red Hands are going for a third successive All-Ireland title, and former Footballer of the Year O’Neill is a valuable addition to the coaching set-up.

The Clann na nGael clubman has established an impressive reputation as a coach since the end of his inter-county playing days, spending spells with the Tyrone, Antrim and Cavan senior squads.

The Tyrone U20s’ defence of the Ulster and All-Ireland titles is due to begin in the third week of March, when the provincial championship will get under way with a round robin phase, leading into the knock-out rounds.

Stephen O’Neill was one of the game’s greatest attackers and part of a golden generation of footballers who brought unprecedented success to Tyrone during the noughties.

He was an All-Ireland winner at minor and U21 level, before embarking on a glorious senior career which saw hm terrorise defences the length and breadth of Ireland with his sublime skills and awesome finishing ability.

He helped Tyrone to three All-Ireland titles in the noughties, winning three All-Star awards, and was voted Footballer of the Year in 2005. He also won five Ulster SFC titles and two National Football League crowns.

And at 45 years of age, he continues to showcase his talents on the field of play, winning four successive All-Ireland Masters titles with Tyrone, the most recent just a couple of months ago.

O’Neill, who has been part of the Cavan senior backroom team for the past two seasons, replaces Diarmaid McNulty, who has stepped down due to family and club commitments with Gortin.

Stats and analysis specialist Leo Green of Killyclogher has also stepped away, and is replaced by Shane Coyle from the Greencastle club.

Existing coaches Cathal McCarron and Connor O’Donnell, both from the Omagh club, are to continue in their roles.

Manager Devlin has ensured a steady stream of quality recruits to the county senior squad over the past eight years, with another batch from the 2025 group having been called up in recent weeks by Malachy O’Rourke.

Under-age football has been thriving in Tyrone in recent seasons, and the county currently holds both Minor and U20 titles.

And at this week’s County Convention, chairman Martin Sludden announced a three-year sponsorship agreement with Tyrone Credit Unions, sponsoring Youth League and Championship competitions across both Hurling and Football.