Mattie Donnelly says Tyrone didn’t do themselves or the county jersey justice last year.
The experienced All Star, who is back for a 12th senior season with the 2021 All-Ireland champions admits there is hurt there from last year.
Donnelly (32) was part of the Tyrone side which crashed out of Ulster to Derry in the quarter-final before losing to Armagh in the first round of the qualifiers.
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Tyrone never got going last year, but will look to begin 2023 with a trophy when they face Derry in the McKenna Cup final on Saturday night at the Athletic Grounds (6pm).
Donnelly said: “Everyone is working hard and everyone has a good body of work behind them.
“With the way the split season and the schedule went last year, boys have had a bit of time to reflect, a long time to reflect actually with the way last year ended.
“We have reaped the benefits of that. And boys have come back keen and eager, and are working hard.
“Whenever you don’t do yourself justice, or you don’t do the jersey justice, which is ultimately what happened last year, there’s obviously going to be a degree of hurt there.
“There’s 31 counties in the same boat, essentially, so we’re all in it for the same reason across the country, and we’re no different.
“Everyone bar Kerry is in the same boat. We came back. We reflected, and we just got stuck into it again.”
Donnelly continued: “It’s nearly history repeating itself every year in Tyrone, because there is so much talent there.
“There are so many young boys that are keen to come through.
“The boys that are there at the minute have serious pedigree - serious pedigree, and most importantly, there’s a serious want in them to play for Tyrone.
“Obviously they’re going to have to fight for their place, but so far they have done everything that has been asked of them.
“It’s a real energiser for the boys that have been there, and it keeps us honest too.”
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