MATTIE DONNELLY had a few things to ponder before going to the well with Tyrone again.
The Trillick stalwart made his senior debut for the Red Hands in 2010 and turned 34 last month.
Donnelly became a proud father in June 2023 but suffered cruciate knee ligament damage and a broken shin bone while lining out for his club in the Kilmacud Sevens two months later.
The forward could have hung up his inter-county boots then, but he returned for Tyrone last year.
And after speaking to new boss Malachy O’Rourke, the two-time All-Star has committed to the cause for a 16th season.
Donnelly said: “I’m at that stage where there is a bit of thinking every year and it was no different this year.
“I’m 34 and I had to see what way the body was, how I was work-wise and then obviously stuff at home in Trillick as well.
“There was a lot to think about too. In fairness to Malachy and the boys, they were easy to work with and I was happy to come back.”
Training was akin to going back to school for Tyrone’s most experienced pupil.
Donnelly only returned to the fold two weeks before Saturday’s NFL Division 1 opener against Derry.
He chipped in with two points as the Red Hands beat their Ulster rivals 2-13 to 1-9 at Healy Park.
But the 2021 All-Ireland SFC winner is still getting to grips with the new rules.
He said: “I only came back two weeks ago. I have had two weeks to take a crash course and get up to speed.
“You are very much back to school again. You are quizzing and querying all the rules, loopholes and ‘what happens if this happens’ sort of stuff.
“We are used to different constraints and restrictions being thrown at you in training anyway.
“Once you get your head around it and talk each other through it, the game will still come down to the basics and good decision-makers. That is not going to change.”
Tyrone’s attack thrived with the three-up, three-down rule.
Darren McCurry grabbed the only two-pointer outside the new scoring arc for O’Rourke’s men.
And Donnelly admits patience is needed as every team adjusts. The Red Hands will get another chance to experiment when they clash with All-Ireland champions Armagh on Saturday.
Donnelly reasoned: “You’re trying to wash out a lifetime of habit. There is a lot to get used to.
“There is still so much sorting out in terms of how teams are going to approach this and get the best out of the new rules.
“It is going to evolve over the next few weeks.
“Everyone involved, the supporters and players, will have to be patient.
“All of this could change by the end of the league, which is a review point.
“It’s hard to get too tied to them.”
