GAELIC GAMES/ALL-IRELAND MFC/Tyrone v Cork:TYRONE'S GATHERING of All-Ireland titles at both minor and senior level has been a feature of the modern era. Let's dispel a few myths. There is no masterplan in place. No system that all Tyrone teams rigidly adhere to from under-nines up to Mickey Harte's warriors.
Two things have contributed to the four All-Ireland minor titles since 1998. It starts with some notable talent coming through a club and schools system that has drilled them into well-armed footballers. Not forwards or backs or midfielders but footballers.
They have been taught how to solo and kick off both feet. From an early age they are shown the value of letting the ball do most of the work. They are instilled with the discipline of welcoming a skilful player down a dark alley that can be illuminated by their Red Hand jerseys.
The treatment of Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan in the 2004 All-Ireland minor final being a case in point. One of the most naturally gifted ball-carriers in the game was fouled eight times by seven different players. Oh, and Tyrone won. That is what they are about. And they have evolved since.
Sustaining such a remarkable sequence of success is largely down to good coaching across the board. Teenagers will not play rugby or soccer or hurling in Tyrone because they can be coached football by the men who defined their childhood.
With so many current and ex-intercounty players doubling up as teachers when not parading as super heroes, the county is able to produce a serious amount of quality coaches.
The result has been a winning culture that is expected to continue in tomorrow’s curtain-raiser.
The minor manager is Ray Munroe, who brings a wealth of experience, having guided the 2008 team through that epic final replay against Mayo.
It was another fine Mayo team that almost caught them in this season’s All-Ireland semi-final.
After edging past a decent Down before leaving both Armagh and Kerry mortally wounded miles from the finish line, the class of 2010 were being heralded as champions-elect.
“I think they learnt their lesson themselves in the All-Ireland semi-final,” said Munroe. “Before the Mayo game they were written up in the press that nobody was going to touch them this year and I suppose for 40 minutes of that game they were still relying on those press headlines until they realised it is a lonely place out there when you have to go and work for yourself and no press can play the actual game for you.”
Spoken like a typical, practical Tyrone football man which GAA land has become accustomed to since 2003.
And what of Cork? The helter-skelter semi-final defeat of Galway (who scored 5-8 to their 3-15) would have you believe they are hit and hope merchants but they overcame Kerry and Armagh to reach this juncture. Granted, both were one-point wins, while Tyrone had nine points left over against Kerry and 12 over Armagh in the Ulster final.
Brian Cuthbert, the Cork manager, reacted to the shaky Galway performance by dropping both corner backs, a wing back and three forwards, including captain Daniel Fitzgerald. Alan Cronin arrives into defence and takes over the captaincy.
Tyrone have their own problems most noticeably the loss of goalkeeper Mark McReynolds. One imagines his replacement, Colm Spiers, will be tested early by probing high ball. Thomas Canavan, a nephew of Peter the Great, has recovered from injury to start at centre forward.
If Cork maintain their discipline, and the six changes work, it can be tight but Tyrone already had their fright against Mayo so expect a more complete performance as they chase a fourth minor title this century.
TYRONE: C Spiers; S McGarrity (capt), C Clarke, P McGeary; N Sludden, M Donaghy, E Deeney; H Óg Conlon, C Grugan; R Donnelly, T Canavan, R Devlin; S Tierney, J McCullagh, R O’Neill.
CORK: D Hanrahan; K Fulignati, M O’Shea, A Cronin; C O’Sullivan, T Clancy, J Wall; J Burns, D Cahalane; J O’Rourke, M Sugrue, D MacEoin; K Hallissey, T Hegarty, B Hurley.
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
Tyrone
Ulster Quarter-final –Tyrone 1-13 Antrim 1-8
Ulster Semi-final –Tyrone 1-10 Down 0-10
Ulster Final –Tyrone 1-14 Armagh 0-5
All-Ireland Quarter-final –Tyrone 2-11 Kerry 0-9
All-Ireland Semi-final–Tyrone 3-10 Mayo 0-16
Cork
Munster Quarter-final –Cork 1-9 Clare 0-9
Munster Semi-final –Cork 2-12 Tipperary 2-9
Munster Final –Cork 1-8 Kerry 1-7
All-Ireland Quarter-final –Cork 3-11 Armagh 0-19
All-Ireland Semi-final–Cork 3-15 Galway 5-8
