Gavin Cummiskey talks to Tyrone's Ryan McMenamin ahead of Saturday's make-or-break clash with Laois
Tyrone travel to Portlaoise on Saturday with a championship campaign in danger of derailment. Their hosts, Laois, are in a near identical position. One of the most talented panels in the country will be planning holidays in July. For the other, partial redemption.
As a result of a number of factors, Ryan McMenamin leads the All-Ireland champions out at O'Moore Park. A player who never made an impact at minor or under-21 level, and is more naturally associated with a colourful disciplinary record, has produced a remarkable turnaround from villain to leader.
Not one to seek plaudits, McMenamin deflects the praise he has received since his promotion to captain. "It wasn't a big deal. No major announcement. Mickey (Harte) just said whoever is leading them out, go on and lead them out.
"During the league he picked me and Stevie (O'Neill) to do our turn. It's been landed with me at the minute. I stood in last year for Brian (Dooher). It is a big honour but hopefully we can get Brian back fit. If not, I'm sure me and Stevie will carry it on."
Did he ever imagine such a scenario could come about? "When I started off I never even thought I would get this far in my career. I've been lucky enough to play with a very good bunch of footballers. I've also been lucky with good managers. When I first joined the panel Art MacRory and Eugene McKenna were there. Now Mickey, Tony Donnelly and the rest."
With so many leaders either departed or injured the natural successor to the Tyrone captaincy was the feisty Dromore defender. McMenamin is a leader by example - be it bursting out of defence or making a mockery of some big-name corner forward's reputation.
His career is intertwined with the path of Tyrone in recent times. Highs and lows. But more recently the former.
But it shouldn't be a surprise to see the Tyrone light fading ever so slightly this year. There are injuries in nearly every department. Stephen O'Neill has limped through most games. Dooher is nursing a cracked kneecap. Brian McGuigan is recovering from a horrific leg break. Midfielder Colin Holmes is the latest to suffer the dreaded cruciate damage.
Playing 10 matches to capture last year's All-Ireland title came at a price. Even professional sportsmen would require a substantial sprinkling of luck to overcome so many grudge matches. The karma factor appears to be revisiting them.
"It's probably just bad luck. Our physio was saying we got away reasonably well last year. We had a few injuries but they were mostly during the league. Maybe this year it's more noticeable because it's so many high-profile players.
"Other benefits have come from it as lads like Raymie Mulgrew have got a lot of game time. He's 19 years of age and he's stepped up and played well."
Since Ulster football raised the bar almost 10 years ago, only Armagh have come close to retaining the All-Ireland title. In 2003, a last-minute block from Tyrone's Conor Gormley probably denied them this monumental achievement, while at the same time guaranteeing Tyrone a first taste of true glory.
In 2004, for a number of factors including the tragic death of Cormac McAnallen, Tyrone ran out of juice in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Mayo. Earlier in the summer Donegal mugged them in the Ulster championship semi-final.
Similarities are evident in 2006. Therein lies the challenge.
It becomes ever more difficult to regain the impetus to return to the well.
The motivation of proving a point (see Armagh and Kerry) can keep a team going but Tyrone, well, they have nothing to prove anymore.
Kevin Hughes should return from suspension and Harte enticed McMenamin's Dromore club colleague Colm McCullagh back from a soccer career with Newry City - just for the off-season mind - to offset the loss of so many attacking players.
Now Laois. Win or bust. It's that simple.
