MICKEY Harte will remain Tyrone manager for a 13th successive season next year, despite concern about the team’s performance following their early exit from the All-Ireland championships.
Tyrone failed to proceed further than the second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers, only the second time that the county have done so.
But this time around, unlike in 2006 when an injury-weakened team was beaten by Laois in Portlaoise, the defeat was in Omagh against an Armagh team that dropped into Division 3 last April.
Harte has been praised for his ability to run a squad with maximum efficiency, but with experienced players either retiring or losing form he needed the younger generation to showcase their talents.
Despite Tyrone winning seven Ulster and four All-Ireland minor championships since 2000, there has been increasing inconsistency, however, with the supply of these players to the senior team.
Sean Cavanagh labelled last Sunday's setback as one of the most disappointing of his long career and rued the absence of leaders among the team when the heavy pressure came on.
Cavanagh has been solid player for the past 12 years but is disappointed by the mentality of some younger colleagues who should be taking on more responsibility.
It's in this regard that comments made by Tyrone coaching officer Brendan Harpur in his resignation letter two week ago raised questions about the nurturing of the young talent.
Harpur expressed his concerns over what he believes is a disregard for the welfare of younger players in the county.
"We have a large dropout of players between minor and U-21, with a particular problem with elite minor players not making it through to U-21 or senior. Little wonder, when he have burned them out, or some have developed chronic injuries," he wrote.
Harpur believes that that the fixtures programme in Tyrone shows places younger players at risk of injury and does not demonstrate concern for their welfare.
"The county gave their all in a championship game against Monaghan, yet within 24 hours they had to go out and play in senior league games (with their clubs). Do we seriously believe that you can expect these players to perform at their best or not to run the risk of injury without adequate rest?
"At the April county committee meeting, I highlighted a survey conducted with this year's championship panel, which showed the totally unacceptable demands we are making on our elite minor players."
Tyrone was well-regarded a decade ago for the young talent coming through and it was assumed that there would be a seamless transition from underage to senior, but this has not occurred in the way it was expected.
Meanwhile, Harte has another year to run in his latest agreement, which was announced in May 2012.
He will definitely complete this stint and recently gave a strong hint that he would like to continue beyond 2015.
