Mattie Donnelly is keen to help Tyrone’s up-and-coming football stars after committing to the cause for a 17th season.

With Peter Harte stepping away from the panel, the 35-year-old Trillick clubman is now the elder statesman of Malachy O’Rourke’s squad and is excited about what the future holds for a county that has won three of the last four All-Ireland U20FC titles.

"There's definitely a good pipeline in Tyrone," Donnelly told BBC NI after scoring a goal in the Red Hands’ season opener against Armagh last weekend.

"The country's well aware of that and that's what we need. We need that injection of quality footballers and quality people, it's exciting for Tyrone, it's a big step-up but the boys are well equipped to make that step-up.

"There's no denying, I'm the oldest now. It takes all sorts. Anything I can add to it, I'm willing to do so. We're trying to add all we can to the betterment of the Tyrone, that's what I'm trying to do week-by-week."

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