Month: September 2021

JIM GAVIN ARRIVED at Dublin’s All-Ireland final media night armed with facts and figures that show how Tyrone have evolved into a more attacking outfit. 

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Jim McGuinness suggested last week that Tyrone may look to drop 15 bodies behind their own 45 in an attempt to arm wrestle the four-in-a-row chasing side into submission. 

“It could become very ugly and farcical,” he wrote in his Irish Times column. ”It might lead to a farcical and even notorious All-Ireland final.”

But Gavin painted a different picture of Mickey Harte’s team and argued they are not given the credit for their attacking flair. 

“In the ten games they played, they have been impressive,” said Gavin. “They’ve racked up 17 goals which is a fair old achievement, over 160 points.

“Even when we were playing them in Omagh, going into that game they played Roscommon the previous week and the week before that they had played Cork, and they scored 7-44 in two games. 

“The perception that they’re just defensive is incorrect. They’ve got a very very potent attacking force. Obviously Connor McAliskey and (Niall) Sludden, Lee Brennan, Mark Bradley, they’re obviously very potent forwards.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“Then you see Tiernan McCann coming up for scores, the two Donnelly brothers chipping in, Peter Harte, even the last day (against Monaghan) Colm Cavanagh got a long-range score. Frank Burns even up there popping away.

“So they have been very potent up front and I don’t think they’re getting the credit they deserve. But I think their supporters do realise that, and the expectation their fans have for their team, I think you see 7 goals and 160 odd points being scored in ten odd games, that’s pretty impressive.”

Red Hand boss Harte is one of the few inter-county managers with a credible record against Gavin, although he’s yet to manage a championship victory over his counterpart. 

Gavin heaped praise on the “all-time great” career Harte has enjoyed.

“He’s an incredible manager, one of the all-time great Gaelic football managers. He’s won so much in the past and will win a lot with this team into the future.

“Last year he got a three year contract which brings him to 2020, which obviously he saw that there’s a lot of potential in this particular group and they’re paying him back with the faith that they’ve put in him. So he’s put together a formidable football team.

“There’ll only be a kick of the ball between us. Hopefully the ball will bounce our way in the final.”

Diarmuid Connolly kicked 0-12 to help Donegal Boston lift the Boston title over the weekend, but there are still 10 players that saw game-time in the breakthrough 2011 All-Ireland final who are part of Gavin’s current squad. 

Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan both played key roles against Kerry seven years ago, but now Flynn must be satisfied with an impact sub role while Brogan will be hoping to make the 26-man panel for Sunday after recently recovering from cruciate surgery.

“His attitude, his passion for Gaelic games is infectious,” he said of Flynn. “As it is with a lot, most, all the players in the squad really. Paul is a great leader as well has a great influence on the team dynamic.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“Team meetings, even on the training field, he drives everything along. A lot of players get that this team is the sum of its parts. Whatever part they’re asked to play, be it 70 minutes, they’re happy to do it.”

On Brogan’s speedy recovery, Gavin remarked: “That’s a very good demonstration of the commitment of these players. He could have chosen one particular part, having got back earlier in the season.

“But he decided to, over the last five and a half months, get himself back in the position to be competing for game-time which is an incredible feat of mind over the body. To push himself so far. He has a very successful but busy business, profession.

“His wife has just had twins – there’s a lot going on with Bernard’s life! To be able to compartmentalise and give so much time to Gaelic games has been inspirational.”

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Despite their patient style of play, the Dublin manager feels his team “stay true to that style of Dublin football.”

“It’s open, it’s honest, attacking football. Obviously, we’re playing different defensive systems than we would have in the past, and the environment the players have created for themselves is that it is a team sport and they acknowledge that.

“So it is about contributing as best they can to that team effort. So whether that’s in terms of game-time. Obviously, they all want game-time, I get that, but they just want to play their part for their team. Then in terms of the attack, if they create a scoring opportunity, if the score is on then you take it, we’ve always said that to them.

“That will never change. The challenge has been meeting those different defensive structures that we have met in the past. That changes every year and it keeps everyone fresh on their toes.”

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 MAYO ARE ON the look-out for a new senior football manager after Stephen Rochford confirmed his resignation following three seasons in charge.

Rochford looked set to remain at the helm 2019 when Peter Ford and Shane Conway were confirmed as the new members of his backroom team earlier this week.

But speculation began to mount last night that Rochford was on the verge of resigning and he confirmed his departure in a statement released this evening. 

Rochford said: “After a meeting of the Mayo GAA Board’s Executive Committee last night, held to discuss the management team I had assembled to manage Mayo senior men’s team in 2019, the board issued a statement saying they wished to meet the management team and me about our structure and plans.

“It was apparent from what transpired at that meeting that the desired level of support for me as manager was not forthcoming from the Executive Committee. This disappoints me greatly.

“Accordingly, I see no value in meeting with the officers of the board and I am resigning my position as Mayo manager. I thank all those who supported me during the past three years, two of which saw Mayo come so close to winning the All-Ireland title.

“Like all Mayo people, I enjoyed the good days when the team won and suffered the disappointments when the results didn’t go our way. It was a great privilege to manage the Mayo team.

“The 2018 season was a disappointing one for all involved, and for our supporters.

“However, I had every confidence that our new backroom team had the capacity to build on the progress of previous years and drive the team on in 2019.

“In particular, I thank the players, backroom team, spouses and partners, family members, our team sponsors Intersport Elverys, the county board, the clubs and the Mayo supporters worldwide who turned out in huge numbers to support us during the three years and who lent financial backing to the team.

“A special word of thanks to my wife, Laura, and our children, and both our families, for their support and forbearance at all times.

“I wish all who will wear the Mayo jersey in 2019 and beyond every success and I look forward to supporting the footballing fortunes of the county.”

The 39-year-old took Mayo to two All-Ireland finals during his tenure. They lost to Dublin by a point after a replay in 2016 and by the same margin to the same opposition in the 2017 decider.

Mayo’s interests in this year’s championship were ended by Kildare in round 3 of the qualifiers back in June. 

Mayo chairman Mike Connolly thanked Rochford following his decision to step down.

“We sincerely thank Stephen Rochford for all the hard work and commitment he has given to Mayo GAA since he was appointed in 2015,” Connolly said. 

“Stephen has given an enormous amount of service to Mayo and has given us as supporters many great days on the pitch.

“Since he become senior team manager he has been involved in three great years for Mayo GAA. He has brought Mayo to two All Ireland finals, losing both by the narrowest of margins. We wish him and his family all the best for the future and thank him for all he has done for Mayo GAA.”

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THE ALL-IRELAND football final is only days away but Stephen Rochford’s decision to step down as Mayo boss will dominate the news agenda over the next 48 hours as the county begin their search for a replacement. 

[image alt=”Stephen Rochford” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/stephen-rochford-63-630×323.jpg” width=”630″ height=”323″ title=”” /end]

Few details around his departure have emerged as of yet, but in a statement released this evening Rochford said a lack of support from the county board’s executive committee led to his resignation.

Rochford’s appointment in December 2015 arrived on the back of a player heave against joint-managers Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly. He led the county to narrow All-Ireland final defeats in 2016 (after a replay) and 2017 before their round 3 qualifier exit to Kildare this summer.

Attention now turns to Rochford’s successor, with several big names being linked for the position.

[image alt=”pjimage (1)” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/pjimage-1-246-500×500.jpg” width=”500″ height=”500″ /end]

Favourites

James Horan may fancy another crack at delivering the Sam Maguire back to his native county. Horan managed Mayo between 2011 and 2014 where he oversaw their All-Ireland final defeats of 2012 and 2013.

The Ballintubber native is currently in charge of Lee Keegan’s club Westport, who booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Mayo SFC at the weekend. 

The other frontrunner is Donegal’s All-Ireland winning manager Jim McGuinness. He was linked with the role earlier this month while there have been suggestions that Mayo’s US-based benefactors would be willing to fund a move for the Glenties man. 

McGuinness has been working as a TV pundit with Sky Sports during the summer and has been unattached since leaving Chinese soccer club Beijing Sinobo Guoan in January. It remains unclear whether he fancies a return to inter-county management.

Local options

If Mayo want to appoint a man from within the county’s underage set-up, they may look to Michael Solan. The Ballaghaderreen man led the county’s U21 side to All-Ireland success in 2016 and this year was in charge of the U20s who were defeated by Kildare in the All-Ireland final.

[image alt=”Alan Flynn” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/alan-flynn-5-406×500.jpg” width=”406″ height=”500″ /end]

Another potential candidate is former Galway U21 boss Alan Flynn. He managed the Tribe to All-Ireland U21 victory in 2013 and is highly experienced on the club circuit.

Castlebar Mitchels joint-manager Declan Shaw is another man being linked to the role. Shaw helped Mitchels to the Mayo SFC three-in-a-row as joint boss with Declan O’Reilly – another man who may fancy a crack at the job. This year Shaw is sharing the Mitchels manager’s role with Eamonn Smith. 

Outside bets

Current Roscommon boss Kevin McStay is likely to find himself mentioned as a potential successor given he has applied for the position in the past. McStay was a star forward for Mayo during his playing days and managed the county’s U21 side to the Connacht title in 2001. 

[image alt=”Tony McEntee” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/08/tony-mcentee-10-420×500.jpg” width=”420″ height=”500″ title=”” /end]

Peter Forde and Shane Conway were part of Rochford’s ill-fated management team for 2019 prior to his resignation, while renowned Armagh coach Tony McEntee was part of the Mayo backroom team for the past two seasons.

Maurice Sheridan led NUI Galway to the Sigerson Cup final earlier this year and played in two All-Ireland finals with Mayo during a nine-year senior career.

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Who do you think should get the job?

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OFFALY ARE SET to turn to John Maughan to take charge of their senior football squad for the 2019 season.

Maughan has been recommended by a committee comprising of Tommy Byrne, Pauric Pierce, Vinny Claffey and Eddie Fleming to take charge of the Faithful county.

It will bring to five the number of county senior outfits that Maughan has managed after previous spells with Clare, Mayo, Fermanagh and Roscommon, while also meaning he has been in charge of counties in each of the four provinces.

Maughan steered Clare to a historic 1992 Munster title win, while also being at the helm when Mayo lost All-Ireland deciders in 1996, 1997 and 2004.

He takes over a vacancy that arose since Offaly exited the championship with Paul Rouse having filled in on an interim basis after he was appointed in May.

Rouse took charge following the dramatic departure of Stephen Wallace that month after a provincial championship exit in their Leinster opener against Wicklow.

In the All-Ireland qualifiers, Offaly saw off Antrim by 2-20 to 1-15 before losing out to Clare by 1-19 to 2-14. They will ply their trade in Division 3 of the football league next spring after narrowly avoiding relegation to the basement tier earlier this year.

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EVEN BY MAYO standards, it’s been a madcap couple of weeks in the county.

Last night, Stephen Rochford confirmed his resignation as Mayo manager citing a lack of ”a desired level of support” for him to continue in the role for a fourth season.The 2015 All-Ireland club winning Corofin manager agreed on a two-year extension to his deal last October, which was supposed to bring him up to the end of 2020.

But the search for Rochford’s successor is now underway, with former boss James Horan one of the leading contenders to replace him. 

The ladies game is also in turmoil in the county after reigning All-Ireland club champions Carnacon were thrown out of the Mayo championship last week for “bringing the game into disrepute.”

Carnacon were punished for withdrawing their players from the Mayo squad during the summer and are set to have their appeal heard with the Connacht Council this week. 

On a positive note, the county board also announced plans for a new Centre of Excellence in Castlebar’s Lough Lannagh last week, but that’s been overshadowed by other off-field matters. 

In the aftermath of Mayo’s All-Ireland round 3 qualifier exit to Kildare in Newbridge back in June, Rochford indicated he would take some time out before making a decision on his future. 

“The group will dust themselves down over the winter and look to re-energise to come again in 2019,” Rochford stated.

“That group, there are four or five guys came into that group this season in their very early 20s. There are a lot of good quality players, Mayo have just won the (Connacht) Under-20 title. There may be some of them that won’t be available next season, but Mayo football will be competitive in 2019 – I have no doubt about that.

“That would be the case no matter when you go out in the championship – it isn’t necessarily a knee-jerk reaction to going out in round three. We have two years left on our term so I don’t want anyone reading into that either way.

“It’s just a case of reflection which would happen if you went to the last Sunday in the competition as well.”

There were several twists and turns before Rochford’s eventual resignation last night.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

23 July – Mayo county board chairman Mike Connelly says he expects Rochford to remain in charge for a fourth campaign, but they’re giving him a month to make his mind up. He also speculates there might be changes in his backroom team.

“There’s a lot of rumours that Donie Buckley isn’t going to be there and maybe Peter Burke (too),” Connelly tells the Western People. “We haven’t been told this but I presume that if that is happening, that (Stephen is) talking to whoever is remaining in his backroom and planning for next year. He was at the All-Ireland U20 semi-final in Carrick on Shannon so I presume he was there for more than one reason.”

1 August – It emerges that long-serving coach Buckley and goalkeeping coach Burke have both informed Rochford that they will be stepping down from their roles. It appears that Tony McEntee will be joining them.

14 August – Rochford officially commits to remain in charge of Mayo for the 2019 season. He also informs Connelly that Buckley, Burke and McEntee will not be continuing in their roles as part of the Mayo management team, while selector Joe Keane will remain in place.

15 August – Mayo forward Jason Doherty expresses his relief that Rochford is staying on. “Stephen has done some great work with us over the last number of years,” he said at a media event in Croke Park.

“We have definitely developed our game and new selectors coming on board will bring in new ideas and as a player you look forward to that, the anticipation of who will be in.”

16 August – Connelly and four other county board officials meet with Cillian O’Connor, Tom Parsons and Aidan O’Shea for an annual review meeting in MacHale Park, Castlebar.

17 August – The board meet with Rochford in MacHale Park and he informs them he is in the process of putting together a new backroom team.

21 August – At a Mayo LGFA county board meeting in the TF Royal Hotel, the agenda turns to whether Carnacon should be punished for withdrawing their players from the county squad. The delegates present vote 29-4 that Carnacon had breached rule 288 of the LGFA official guide. They vote 26-2 in favour of removing Carnacon from the rest of the 2018 league and championship.

23 August – Mayo GAA unveil plans to for a new three-pitch centre of excellence in Castlebar, in co-operation with Mayo County Council.

23 August – Carnacon confirm they are in the process of preparing an appeal to the Connacht LGFA over their expulsion from the club championship. “Understandably, the entire panel, management, club officers, our families and supporters are devastated by the sequence of events which have transpired,” it says.

23 August – At a county board meeting, Connelly tells club delegates that Rochford has been given a deadline of Friday 31 August to come up with names for his backroom team for 2019.

24 August – Mayo defender Chris Barrett is non-commital on Rochford staying in charge. “I’m not going to go too much into that at the moment because I’m not sure if it’s all rubber-stamped,” Barrett told the press at a Londis GAA event.

“He’s putting together his team at the moment. Continuity is great in football and it’s probably a key thing that it keeps going. Obviously there’s a shake-up in the backroom team so we’ll see who comes in.”

25 August – It emerges through media reports that Breaffy’s joint managers Peter Ford and Shane Conway have agreed to come on board as selectors under Rochford for next season. Ford previously managed  Sligo and Galway, while Conway is a respected coach on the club circuit.

26 August – Mayo county board release a statement through their official Twitter account stating that officers of the board had been “authorised” to meet with Rochford and his management set-up to discuss their plans for 2019.

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Following an executive meeting of Mayo GAA this evening the officers of the board were authorized to meet Stephen Rochford & his management team on their structures & plans for 2019. #mayogaa #gaa

— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) August 26, 2018

26 August – Rochford meets with the board’s executive committee as planned. It’s expected they’ll ratify his new backroom team of Ford and Conway. Although the exact details of the meeting have not come out, it’s believed they did not endorse his new selectors.

It has also been speculated that the executive members were not happy that the names of new management team made their way into the public domain prior to the meeting.

Later in the evening, speculation on social media begins to mount that Rochford will tender his resignation. 

27 August – Connelly confirms to Midwest Radio and The Connaught Telegrah that Rochford remains the manager of Mayo.

Hours later, Rochford releases a statement confirming his decision to step down as manager. “It was apparent from what transpired at that meeting that the desired level of support for me as manager was not forthcoming from the executive committee,” he said. “This disappoints me greatly.

“Accordingly, I see no value in meeting with the officers of the board and I am resigning my position as Mayo manager. I thank all those who supported me during the past three years, two of which saw Mayo come so close to winning the All-Ireland title.”

Mayo release a brief statement thanking Rochford for his three years at the helm.

“We sincerely thank Stephen Rochford for all the hard work and commitment he has given to Mayo GAA since he was appointed in 2015. Stephen has given an enormous amount of service to Mayo and has given us as supporters many great days on the pitch.”

28 August – The search begins for Rochford’s successor with Horan, Jim McGuinness and Mike Solan the early frontrunners.

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WITH THE FINAL looming into view, the 2018 All-Ireland senior football championship is set to conclude and the last opportunity arises to make the case for the star footballer from this season.

It looks set to be a player from next Sunday’s finalists Dublin and Tyrone, breaking the winning run enjoyed by Mayo players for the last two seasons.

A Dublin figure last triumphed in 2015 when Jack McCaffrey was crowned while Sean Cavanagh in 2008 is the last Tyrone victor.

McCaffrey’s resurgent form this season, after he has rebounded from the snapped cruciate he suffered in the early stages of last September’s decider, puts him in the frame. Newcomer Brian Howard has been a shining light for Dublin this season, moving seamlessly into the senior grade and catapulting himself into contention.

The two favourites are their Dublin team-mates Ciaran Kilkenny and Brian Fenton. It is a recognition of the significant roles they now both fill for the champions. Kilkenny has orchestrated the attack, scoring 2-21 from play in the process, while Fenton has controlled the midfield, contributing 1-9 along the way.

For Tyrone the pair best placed appear to be Colm Cavanagh and Niall Sludden. Cavanagh is the last remaining playing link from Tyrone’s previous foray into All-Ireland final action back in 2008 and gave a towering display to claim the man-of-the-match award in their semi-final success over Monaghan.

Sludden scored the solitary goal of that game, a vital score for his side, and has bagged 3-13 in total during this summer’s championship.

They are some of the leading contenders but who do you think should get the nod or have we omitted someone?

Let us know.

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YOU HAVE TO hand it to a certain breed of Tyrone footballer.

When Mickey Harte comes calling, few refuse the offer. In Tyrone, there is no higher calling than being a county player.

And yet when you look through their team and pick out some of their more aggressive performers, the eye is drawn to, say, captain Matthew Donnelly, Kieran McGeary and Niall Sludden.

The trio have one thing in common. Harte made an approach to all of them in their teens. And they all made the decision to stick with their clubs and universities, feeling their way into senior football and getting as many games as possible.

Take Sludden in particular. In 2010, he was part of an All-Ireland winning minor team. Harte made his play shortly after.

“Physically the demands of the game over the last number of years had gone up and I felt I was not doing that,” the Dromore man reflects on his decision.

“I was at St Mary’s College so I was very lucky I was under Paddy Tally and I have been under a number of great trainers; Ryan Porter, the Monaghan trainer, was with my club Dromore. As I went along I felt the time was right when I was about 24.”

Still, he felt the catch in his throat as he explained his reasoning to Harte. He had to be careful not to leave an inter-county career behind him.

“I was young back then and speaking to Mickey Harte, you were very much in awe of the man and of what he had done.

“So when the phone call came I had to be very careful in making sure that when I was talking to him of not giving the impression I was coming across as saying ‘hold on now Mickey, I don’t want to be part of your squad and I don’t care about the Tyrone team.’

“I was saying I am not ready but if you give me the call and I keep playing well for my club, no doubt I will come back in. I was leaving a reminder and thankfully he made that call.”

Such is his confidence and long-sightedness though, that he remained confident he would come back into the frame.

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“I was always of the belief that if I kept performing well for the club Mickey would give me the call,” he says.

“I suppose in the back of your mind you are thinking that he has forgotten about me because in Tyrone there is so much youth coming through from under-21 teams, you can start thinking that he is looking at those players.

“But, no, I always had the ambition I would be here and that one day I would be playing at the highest level so I was hoping Mickey would give me the call and I remember when he gave me that call it was a great feeling.”

Only himself, Ronan O’Neill, Hugh Pat McGeary and Richie Donnelly survive from that minor crop in 2010.

“A lot of the team have had opportunities or been around this squad but there has been only a few that have been there,” he explains.

“Tyrone won the minor All-Ireland in 2008 as well and there is only Mattie Donnelly, Ronan McNabb and Peter Harte. But from that team you would have had players around the fringes of the squad as well.”

His progress was derailed with an awful leg break during a league match against Cookstown on a miserable wet night. Whatever you were doing on your 21st birthday it had to be better than Sludden who spent his on the operating slab of Altnagelvin Hospital.

When he came to, the nurses in the ward presented him with a birthday cake.

The doubts he held at that stage, he used as fuel and a tool for keeping his perspective.

“At that stage you are thinking if you will come back from it. It was definitely a key moment in my life,” he adds.

In 2016, he made his debut in the Dr McKenna Cup at 24. He retained his place for the Championship, debuting against Derry. Over the next two seasons he won two Ulster titles and was included on the nominations list for All-Stars.

This summer, they failed to collect a third consecutive Ulster title. The vultures surrounded this team and their manager. But here they are; Tyrone, back in an All-Ireland final and united behind their manager.

“Of course, the players are all behind Mickey. It is like everything else, sport is very fickle and being an Arsenal fan I know that best,” he says.

“Mickey is brilliant and when I was coming into the squad it was great to have a man of that experience there. You have to remember that he has been there and done that and the fact that we are in an All-Ireland final and we have been there before for our younger players that is a massive thing to have, to be imparting that knowledge.”

His goal against Monaghan, a loose ball planted into the roof of Rory Beggan’s net earned this Arsenal supporter the nickname ‘Bergkamp.’

What a finish from Tyrone's Niall Sludden! Rattles the net! pic.twitter.com/DQNgGUDPm0

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 12, 2018

When they run out against Dublin this Sunday, he will have Eoin Murchan for company, just as he did in Omagh for their Super 8s game. He is at that level now, a player that must be curtailed.

“Teams look at certain players they want to stop and defect and they did a very good job that day. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as well and we have another opportunity now to come back,” he reflects.

“I look at that as a good thing as well because they are concentrating on me as a threat so they are worried about me. We’ve got plenty of other players that can step up too.”

If Tyrone can get their scampering attacker on the ball and lacing those outside of the boot efforts over the bar, they will be on the first step to victory.

Who would bet against him?

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WESTMEATH’S RAY CONNELLAN has not been offered a contract with AFL club St Kilda for the 2019 season.

Connellan has spent the past two seasons with the Melbourne-based club after having joined them when he signed a two-year contract in July 2016.

The club has opted not to hand him a new contract but praised him for his contribution.

“Ray has given everything over the past two seasons to make the step from Gaelic football to the AFL,” stated the St Kilda general manager of football Simon Lethlean.

Connellan confirmed the news in an Instagram post, describing his time with St Kilda as ‘the most amazing experience’ of his life.

Connellan initially caught the eye at the AFL Europe Talent Combine trials in DCU in 2015 and moved over at the same time as Kilkenny’s Darragh Joyce to St Kilda. His progress was halted when he suffered a double leg break in action for Westmeath in the 2016 Leinster senior football semi-final against Dublin.

Connellan then recovered and lined out for St Kilda’s affiliate club Sandringham in the Victorian Football League, along with making his first-team debut in February in the pre-season AFLX tournament.

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KILDARE ARE ON the look-out for a new senior hurling manager after Joe Quaid confirmed he will not be seeking a second term as boss.

Quaid was in charge of the Lilywhites for three seasons which culminated in the Christy Ring Cup victory over London at Croke Park in June. 

In a statement issued today, Kildare thanked Quaid for the effort the put in over the past few seasons.

“Joe and his management team have put in tremendous work and commitment over the last 3 years and won the Christy Ring Cup this year.

“We sincerely thank him for all that he brought to Kildare GAA during his time and wish him all the best for the future.”

Quaid has been linked with the vacant managerial roles in Westmeath and Laois in recent weeks. 

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DUBLIN’S CONVINCING ALL-Ireland semi-final victory last August was seen by many as the death knell for Tyrone’s style of play. 12 months on though, they’re back in their first final in a decade with largely the same system.

Some new faces have been introduced to the Tyrone starting 15 but they remain an outfit who defend in numbers and counter-attack at pace.

Between all the ex-Tyrone players doing media interviews this week, perhaps no man can provide a better insight into the mind of Mickey Harte than his son Mark.

The 39-year-old was an All-Ireland winner under his father in 2003 and 2005. Since his retirement, he has worked in the media as an analyst on TG4 and been involved in club management in Tyrone and Derry. 

Mark says his father started planning for the 2018 season shortly after the disheartening semi-final to Dublin in Croke Park. 

“Every time a campaign would end, whether it was a success or failure, he would get back to planning for the next year very, very soon,” he says.

“I don’t see a difference in that. I’ve seen him in years after winning the All-Ireland and within a very short space of time he’ll already look forward to the next year. 

“And I’ve seen him at times when the campaign has ended earlier than he would like and he’s planning right away. He’s measured in his approach. He doesn’t get too excited by the big wins or too defeated by the big losses.

“He sees it as a constant learning experience and every year he brings that learning into the next campaign. I’ve no doubt no matter what way Sunday goes he’ll apply the same philosophy.”

Harte says his father remains composed in the lead-up to All-Ireland finals. 

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“I think he’s fully enjoying the experience. This is the game he loves, this is the job he loves, this is the county he loves. There has to be a natural element of nervousness, there has to be a natural element of excitement.

“But he’s very grounded, he’s been there for quite a while now. He’s fortunate to have experienced a few finals at this stage. But he has a life to live outside of football as well, that includes grandchildren, it involves working in the community and meeting people.

“So there’s plenty going in his life to keep him busy, but I suppose for the next week and a half or so, the football will take priority, there’s no doubt about that.”

While he says getting back to the All-Ireland final was Mickey’s “ultimate goal”, there were plenty of landmines to be navigated before then.

“Because of the nature of the Ulster championship and because of the way Tyrone went about the backdoor this year – after the defeat to Monaghan that looked like quite a job to get that task. So you had to take it game by game.

“I suppose the ultimate goal for every county when you start off is there be two teams standing at the end of the year – be one of those teams. Tyrone are no different. Albeit they went quite a scenic route to get there but we’re all very glad that’s where they’ve got to.”

Tyrone fell at the quarter-final hurdle in 2016 and were beaten in the semi-finals of 2015 and 2017. Had they lost out to Monaghan in the last four this year, there may have been question marks over the ability of this group to deliver in the business end of the All-Ireland series.

“I think it (beating Monaghan) was crucial. It was the next natural step. Another semi-final defeat might have let one or two doubts creep in the players’ minds. There didn’t seem to be any doubt from the start of the year that Tyrone meant business this year.

“Some of the performances were better than others but to go one step further and make a final I think is quite a good response from last year’s semi-final defeat and it’s bound to encourage and inspire the team to give it their best in the final.”

Mickey Harte has never been beaten on the showpiece day of Gaelic football, achieving victory on each of Tyrone’s All-Ireland senior final appearances in the noughties.

One interesting statistic from those victories is the Red Hand’s three Sam Maguire victories arrived against the reigning champions – Armagh in 2003 and Kerry in both 2005 and 2008.

That winning mindset will be of vital importance for Tyrone as they face the three-in-a-row champions who haven’t lost a championship game since 2014.

“There’s an appreciation when you pull on that jersey that it’s yours for 75 or 80 minutes and you’ve got to empty your heart and soul into it,” says Harte.

“As Tyrone fans all we ask is that the team give it their best and I don’t think we can argue with the result after that. There’s no magic formula it’s just a case of preparing as best as you can, turning up on the day, giving it your best performance.

“If it’s good enough, it’s good enough and if it’s not, it’s not.”

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