Tyrone's extra bit of know-how should prove decisive

TYRONE v WEXFORD:IN WHAT has been a year of surprises tomorrow's second football semi-final maintains the standard. Even though Wexford have achieved an extraordinary breakthrough in reaching the last four there is almost more surprise at Tyrone's re-emergence as contenders for the Sam Maguire.

For all that they possess some good young footballers and a great deal of experience, Mickey Harte's side had looked a long way off former glories for most of the three years since their last All-Ireland win.

At what point did their improvement two weeks ago end and Dublin's wretchedness begin? And to what extent was the display one defiant kick against every county's favourite Aunt Sally, Dublin in Croke Park as raging favourites? Tomorrow will give some sort of an indicator because Wexford's emergence this season under Jason Ryan has been remarkable.

Unbeaten in the league and championship, apart from a day to forget when the county's first Leinster final in 52 years proved a bit overwhelming, the team have shown great character and ambition in putting that tough lesson behind them.

Wexford become only the third county from the province to reach the semi-finals since the current system was introduced seven years ago.

There will be questions about how they'll handle such a big occasion, given the meltdown in the provincial final but you may be sure they will be far happier taking on Tyrone than Dublin. Logically that makes no sense but the peculiar psychologies of provincial championships aren't always rational.

On a more practical level, Ryan can point to the fact his team has beaten three of the Ulster semi-finalists in knock-out competition already this season.

Much of the focus has been on Matty Forde but Wexford's attack has been a lot more varied and although the former footballer of the year was lethal in dismantling Armagh - all the more creditable for his carrying an injury - there have been notable contributions from PJ Banville, Redmond Barry and Ciarán Lyng. If anything, at times, Forde could show more awareness of his colleagues.

Given the display against Dublin, Tyrone are well fancied to do damage going forward and Philip Wallace has been identified as a weakness in his match-up with Seán Cavanagh, which at times has been the case, but already Wexford have dealt with attacks featuring Benny Coulter and the Armagh duo of Ronan Clarke and Steven McDonnell.

The major test for Wexford is how they cope with Tyrone's movement and instinctive knowledge of where the others are when breaking from defence or combining in attack. Brian Dooher, with a fortnight's rest behind him, may well give another dynamic display but Wexford will hardly be as rooted to the spot as Dublin looked in the quarter-final.

This issue is particularly relevant at centrefield where Wexford struggled against Dublin's mobility, one of the challenges Armagh didn't set them. The Ulster champions were also cripplingly conservative but for which they might have won the match before Wexford had a chance to get back.

Tyrone won't fall into either of those categories. Their central sector features a good combination of aerial prowess and mobility, with Enda McGinley, Colin Holmes, Joe McMahon and Dooher outstanding the last day.

TYRONE:J Devine; R McMenamin, Justin McMahon, C Gourley; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; C Holmes, E McGinley; B Dooher (capt), B McGuigan, Joe McMahon; T McGuigan, S Cavanagh, C McCullagh.

WEXFORD:A Masterson; D Walsh, P Wallace, B Malone; A Morrissey, D Murphy, C Morris (capt); E Bradley, B Doyle; PJ Banville, R Barry, C Byrne; C Lyng, P Colfer, M Forde.

Referee:P McEnaney (Monaghan).

GUIDELINES

In the last episode:Previous encounters are few and far between. Most recently in 2005, Wexford sprang a surprise in the National League semi-finals and six years ago, ran Tyrone close in a qualifier match in Wexford Park before going down by two points.

You bet:Tables turned for Tyrone, who having started at 3-1 against Dublin now see their opponents quoted at the same price, whereas they come in to 4-11 with the draw at 8-1. The handicap is Wexford evens +3 Tyrone (-3) the same.

On your marks:Paddy Colfer, at times Eric Bradley and Matty Forde offer good targets on Wexford's inside line. Tyrone's full-back line was excellent against Dublin but was rarely set the challenge of good, early ball into big full forwards.

Gaining ground:Wexford have more experience of championship matches at Croke Park in recent years but most of the Tyrone players are also comfortably familiar with the venue.

Just the ticket:Stands €45. Terrace is open this week, at €30. Concessions (accompanied juveniles €5, students with ID and senior citizens, €20) available for Cusack and Davin Stands. Ticket availability has been described by Croke Park as "limited".

Crystal gazing:Although Wexford will surely put up a better display than Dublin they will also face the same difficulties, chiefly a lack of familiarity with the intensity that Tyrone uncovered in the quarter-final. Even if Mickey Harte's team don't quite get to the same register their experience of winning at this level will be sufficient.