Harte pays glowing tribute to the late Fergal McCann

RIP Fergal McCann

Former Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has paid tribute to the late Fergal McCann, who passed away yesterday.

Fergal was part of the Tyrone set-up for 10 years, acting as team trainer when the Red Hands captured their second and third All-Ireland SFC titles in 2005 and ’08 under Harte.

Speaking to BBC Sport Northern Ireland, Harte said that it was his assistant Tony Donnelly that recommended the St Macartan's clubman be brought in and also revealed that Fergal and his wife Roisin were there for his family following the murder of his daughter Michaela in 2011.

“I met Fergal in Tony's house and he showed me the kind of preparation and meticulous detail that went into planning and sessions, it was all so perfectly laid out, everything was so precise," said Harte

"Tony felt he was capable of taking the step up to county football and I had no doubt when Tony said it, I would be very happy with that.

"It's a credit to Fergal to take that step from club level to county level. Of course, he was nervous at the start but it wasn't too many nights before he showed how good he was and what he had to offer.

"All the schools loved him, the children loved him - he could adapt and adjust from making the game so enjoyable for schoolchildren to the highest level of athletes in gaelic football.

"I thank himself and Roisin - we as a family owe them a lot, for in our most difficult times they were good to us."