Harte: We've shown we can cope
August 27, 2008
Mickey Harte believes that while his Tyrone side have it all to prove over the next month, he still thinks that his players can cope with the loss of their 'big guns' in recent years.
The Red Hands boss has saw the departure of stars Peter Canavan and Stephen O'Neill in recent times, but is adamant that his players have learned to move on without those names and strive towards a third All-Ireland title for the O'Neill County.
"I don't think we've proved anything conclusively yet, but what we have proved is that there is life after these players. Peter Canavan is gone, and we can't hang on to that forever, Stephen O'Neill is available at the moment either, he has decided to quit.
"That's a big loss to any team, those are huge players, but a team is about exactly that - it's about a team," said Harte. "I think maybe that's what has evolved. Because of the loss of those key individuals, maybe the rest of the team has felt the need to step up and support each other, spread the load.
"That can only be a good thing, and if that continues, then that will always serve this group of players well."
Like the other three teams, Harte is adamant that his team have got to the last four of the All-Ireland SFC on merit and thinks that each team should be given the respect they deserve for how far they've come this year.
"If you bring this determination and this will to succeed with you, it won't happen every day, but without it, it certainly won't happen. But if you do have that kind of desire, there's a chance that it will happen.
"You don't arrive in the last four of the All-Ireland series by mistake or some freak. You have to be there on merit, so everybody in the last four is there on merit, and each of them deserve the same respect, and that's the way it is."
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