"That's probably the day that they won the All-Ireland"

September 12, 2021

The full-time score in the Allianz FL Division 1 semi-final clash between Kerry and Tyrone at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Tyrone's fourth All-Ireland senior football championship title win yesterday marked the dawning of a new era in the Red Hand County.

Few could have envisaged them lifting the Sam Maguire Cup after they shipped five first-half goals to Kerry in the Allianz League Division 1 semi-final exactly three months ago. 

Managers Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan deserve huge credit for the drastic turnaround following that humiliating 6-15 to 1-14 defeat in Killarney.

It was there, at Fitzgerald Stadium, where Tyrone laid the foundations for future All-Ireland success, says former Donegal boss Jim McGuinness.

"It's an interesting one, because that's probably the day that they won the All-Ireland, that would be my take on that," McGuinness said when speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports.

"We [Donegal] went down to Kerry the year we won the All-Ireland [2012], we got beaten by double scores, 2-16 to 1-8. We got humiliated.

"And the same thing happened to Tyrone, probably even worse to Tyrone. If that's not a moment where you pause and reflect and decide 'we're going to go this direction, or we're going to go that direction, or we're going to double down here', it's never going to happen.

"I would suggest that the reason they're standing there today as All-Ireland champions is that game had a big bearing in shaping the mindset that's required. And then obviously, that will feed the training and intensity and the energy levels and everything that goes with it."


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