No fact-sheet this time around for Tyrone, no fortright defence of their place in the world. At the Tyrone press night last evening in Garvaghy, Mickey Harte would not be drawn on the situation surrounding Tiernan McCann's eight-week ban handed down by the CCCC, other than to confirm that the county board would be appealing.

Harte found out about the proposed ban for feigning injury on Tuesday but despite repeated questioning, he remained tight-lipped. “I’ve said what I’ve had to say about it earlier this week [in a BBC interview] and obviously the county board are contesting it so we’ll leave it there, we’ll see where that takes us.”

Personal hearing

Wing-forward McCann is certain to seek a personal hearing, leaving Tyrone 10 days to go through the appeals process ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.

With a proposed charge of “misconduct that is considered to discredit the association” to fight, Harte decided against commenting on the situation. Asked if he believed there was an anti-Tyrone agenda at play, an unusually reticent Harte held back.

“If I gave my opinion on that, it wouldn’t be seen as objective. I would leave that to independent observers to judge. I would believe that if you took a consensus of opinion across all independent observers, you’d probably find the answer to that.”

The 'Rufflegate Affair' isn't the first time Tyrone have gone into an All-Ireland semi-final with a suspension facing one of their players. Two years ago, Conor Gormley was handed a one-match ban after the quarter-final against Monaghan which was subsequently overturned, allowing him to play against Mayo.

Though this is familiar ground for Tyrone, Harte's reaction this time around has been different. Two years ago, he was far more expansive in his defence of Cavanagh, Gormley and Martin Penrose (who was also facing a suspension at the time). Here he focused his fire on some of the media coverage Tyrone have received.

“I always believe in life that you get more of what you look for. If you want to look for negativity, and hone in on that, then certainly you will get lots of it. But I would love to think that people would be more optimistic than that, more open-minded than that and look for the good within.

“It’s typical of our game indeed in general where you have lots of nit-picking going on and fault-finders and they think that’s their brief in life. They don’t understand that there’s lots of good in our game at the minute. Of course there’ll be faults, of course there’ll be things that aren’t as they ought to be. That’s life – as they say, nobody’s perfect.

“That’s what we’re faced with. So I wish people would take the good that’s going on in our games, highlight that – and okay, acknowledge some things that could be done differently. We’ll all agree with that. But put the emphasis where it best belongs, on the quality that’s there.”

Alongside him, wing-back Peter Harte wouldn't bite either. "That's not really my job," he replied when asked about it. "My job is to go out and play football and do that as best as I can. You're only able to control what you can do as a player, you're only in charge of what you do on the pitch, on the training field and in the gym.

Keyhole surgery

Newswise, the only real item of significance was the fact that Joe McMahon is unlikely to make the semi-final. The hernia problem that cut short his quarter-final after just eight minutes will be treated with keyhole surgery this weekend and Harte doubts over whether or not he will be recovered in time to play on Sunday week.

Meanwhile, Mayo will appeal the proposed one-match suspension handed down to Kevin Keane after his red card for striking Michael Murphy last Saturday. "Kevin is entitled to a hearing and we will be using our right to appeal the proposed suspension," said Mayo secretary Vincent Neary. "It's a crucial stage in the championship and we would like to give every member of our panel every chance of playing in an All-Ireland semi-final." John Evans has stepped down as Roscommon football manager after three years at the helm.

The Kerry native will not seek the nomination for the post for 2016 having served an initial two years and a one-year continuation in 2015.

Roscommon were knocked out of the Connacht championship by Sligo before losing a qualifier against Fermanagh.