Feargal Logan, who helped lead Tyrone to the 2021 All-Ireland title, is back in the football management game, this time with Queen’s University in the Sigerson Cup
Croke Park possesses a unique ability to preserve memories. For Feargal Logan, returning there yesterday, it holds the reverberations of glory and heartbreak, of moments when the crowd’s thunderous support made the unthinkable seem within reach.
He settles back in his chair within the press room, late autumn sunlight streaming through the glass, speaking in tones that are both deliberate and forthright. At 57, he finds himself several years beyond the pressures of inter-county management, having survived a stroke, yet here he stands once more, back in the sport – specifically the Sigerson Cup – guiding Queen’s University, the same institution where he hoisted that identical trophy as skipper 35 years ago.
“I had a fairly tough event 18 months ago,” Logan says of his life-changing stroke. “Work has worked out for me. My Law Practice has merged, and I’m in a different, less intense role. It’s probably more at my own pace which is helpful. I thought this would be me at 57, not 67. But I was handed the Sigerson Cup earlier, and it brought back a lot of memories. I’ve been blessed to come through what I came through, so why not have a pop at a bit of football?” Speaking with the clarity of someone who has grappled with life’s ultimate question, he casually mentions names – Collie McGurk, Patsy O’Donnell, Jody Gormley – men no longer with us.
“Football remains the most important of the least important things,” he muses, a quiet philosophy shaped by experience. As co-manager of Queen’s alongside Dan McCartan, Logan has returned not as a victor but as a mentor.
He downplays the glamour of titles and the modern-day manager cult.
“Study the players; don’t necessarily study the managers,” he advises. “The product is the key in any business, and the players are the ones whose qualities, character, commitment, and time are most critical for success. It’s the players’ team. You rise or fall on them.”
This wisdom was hard-earned, not just at Croke Park but also during Tyrone’s 2021 All-Ireland victory, where he and Dooher led a team that defied expectations to seize Sam and end Dublin’s reign. “Dooher used to say, ‘Which one of our players would you swap?’ I’m a believer you’re as good as your weakest link. There weren’t many lads in that team either Brian or I would dare swap. To a man, they fronted up.”
Then there are the personal tales that separate decent sides from exceptional ones. Take Kieran McGeary, for example.
Logan recalls a youthful McGeary struggling through a Tyrone Under-21 training session in the early 2010s, before being reminded he had a Sigerson match just twelve hours later.
“I physically took him off the field,” Logan remarks with a knowing grin. “Nobody will overburden these players. Managers will be telling them to keep it tight. But if you stand up and play well, they’ll always come back for you. That’s the one person I’ve been citing most. He’s a proper baller.”
Conor Meyler also earns recognition. A footballer whose loyalty to Tyrone was beyond question, whose playing days ended prematurely due to a knee problem.
“Conor has had a brilliant impact. But obviously, that’s not a good way for anyone to finish, after all the commitment he put in.”
Logan’s voice carries understanding, shaped by the harsh truth that sport can be unforgiving, where triumph inevitably comes alongside heartbreak. His views on contemporary inter-county management reflect stark candour.
“The manager, whoever the buck stops with, is critical… but the players are the raw materials. The rest is commentary. Football management is simple. You’re only as good as the players you’ve got. Probably I’m being simplistic, but it’s not untrue.”
Now Logan finds himself back in the collegiate arena, managing a fresh challenge: young lads from different counties, each carrying dreams and responsibilities, all requiring direction without being overwhelmed.
The Sigerson Cup draw has matched Queen’s against UCG, presenting another examination, another tale developing.
“You don’t reference other players in front of groups, you don’t act the big fella. But I said to them: if you stand up for the team you’re due to play for, you’ll always be counted.”
There’s a modesty present here, a feeling that existence beyond football has refined his outlook.
Logan has experienced it all: a stroke that demanded a reassessment of career and personal life, the sorrow of losing colleagues and guides, the glory of an All-Ireland that continues to shine in his recollections.
He presents his coaching comeback not as personal salvation but as dedication to the upcoming generation.
“When we played for Queen’s, we were guided,” he reflects. “I was asked a few years ago but I was too busy then.
“Now, it’s different. I have the time to do it. I said I would help pick up the jerseys or do anything that would help. Next thing you know I am on the sideline.”
He discusses the scheduling challenges in January, of juggling college fixtures with inter-county commitments, of the narrow opportunities in which players can progress without being overstretched.
“Has the integrity of the National League gone?” he reflects. “I never went into one thinking I didn’t want to win it, but it seems some people do.”
His chuckle is gentle, sardonic, appreciating the contradictions that characterise elite sport.
These days Logan’s attention is in the changing rooms where he can shape players’ development.
“Football remains the most important of the least important things,” he reiterates, and this time it bears significance.
Not because he’s retreating from aspiration, but because he understands that the worth of a career in sport extends beyond silverware alone.
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