The Rovers Return - While watching a club game recently I overheard a few wags discuss the hammering an awesome Kilkenny unit handed out to an out-of sorts Waterford team just a few hours previous. "Aye," reflects one of Tyrone's eternal optimists, "and our boys could get the same in a couple of weeks if they are not careful!" While this casual retort is not necessarily reflective of the majority of Tyrone supporters it does carry with it the perception (not just among Tyrone supporters) that Kerry are the masters of the footballing fraternity just as the Cats are the obvious masters of hurling. This perceived mastery is well merited, as Kerry's record of All-Irelands readily confirms, yet even having defeated them at crucial stages in recent years the Tyrone supporter's admiration still remains. As the wag confirms, "Aye, I know we are going well, but.God, that's a great Kerry team!" So, what of the final? 2008. Kerry versus Tyrone. The two best teams in Ireland at present and what a contest it should be. There are so many battles to be won in order to secure final victory. There's the usual mind games to be won, and despite the fact that both managers are the type to keep quiet and focus on their own game they will occasionally have to put out the right sound bites and make sure not to give the opposition any useful information or indeed any ammunition. There's the on-field battles. What strategy (or strategies) as a whole to use. What tactical switches do you make and when. All the personal battles - player v player. Who marks who? What personnel do you use? What players do you start? Stephen O'Neill's unexpected return to the Tyrone camp will give Mickey Harte another arrow for his bow but at what stage do you produce it? Stephen's return has been quite a surprise but a very welcome one. Many were of the opinion that his retirement was much too premature and, as I have mentioned in this column before, I did not think his playing days were over. The surprise comes, not in his actual return, but in the actual timing of it. Having been hopeful of an earlier return it seemed unlikely once Tyrone reached the latter stages of the All-Ireland but - better late than never! Just how Stephen's return was initiated is irrelevant but what was potentially a divisive issue has been handled well and everyone seems happy in the camp. This is due in no small way to Stephen's character and the esteem with which he is held in among the players. Certainly not a glory hunter, in fact he has always been the one to shun the limelight and get on with the job in hand as quietly as possible. A vital team member of Mickey Harte's for a dozen years or more, his dedication or loyalty has never been questioned, his ability obvious. Despite all the obvious pluses of having Stephen in the squad it does cause a bit of a dilemma for management. When do we introduce him? Do we start him? Do I use him before I use the player who has trained all year? What with Tyrone's scoring average having increased dramatically in recent games it is a nice dilemma to have! Pat O'Shea is faced with a similar dilemma. The timely return of Paul Galvin, though not as dramatic as Stephen O'Neill's, does present the Kerry management with the big question - do we start him? Well, I think it pretty obvious that the answer will be yes. While the Kerry half-forward line has produced some passages of sublime football this season it could also be argued that it is a problem area for them in terms of winning break ball or tackling. Galvin's willingness to battle for the hard ball and his tenacity in the tackle would bring an added dimension to this part of Kerry's attack. While our good friend the Tyrone optimist has already alluded to Kerry as being on a par with the current Kilkenny hurlers I can't agree that they have developed that far yet but it is players like Galvin that they are missing. His temperament can surely be questioned but his commitment can't. His inclusion in the half-forward line would also mean that there would be less need for the Gooch to drift outfield as far and instead of battling for ball he could be deployed in a more suitable score-taking role. However, Kerry's abundance of quality forwards may afford the management team the privilege of using Galvin as a substitute. Their deployment of Daragh O Se is much more obvious and a starting role for him is guaranteed. This is the game Kerry have been waiting on since their All-Ireland defeat of 2005. Were it not for Tyrone this Kerry team could well be heading for six-in-a-row and placing themselves well and truly on a pedestal even higher than that of Kilkenny's. As we know, their ability to play dazzling, exciting football is second to none, though their ability to sustain it for the full duration of a match is very much in question. This is an obvious problem though so I am sure Kerry are working on it as we speak. From a Tyrone perspective it is delightful to see some of the older hands coming into form at the right time of year and more importantly it is heartening to see the more recent recruits like Tommy McGuigan and Justin McMahon mature into accomplished county players. Collie McCullagh has proven this year just what a good footballer he is. A natural playmaker and scoretaker who blends well with the ever-improving Brian McGuigan who, thank God, is approaching full recovery from his serious injuries. These are issues that can be discussed with some degree of certainty. What can't be discussed with any certainty is who the eventual winners will be nor what events will transpire through the course of the game. Expect the unexpected! Well done to Raymond Munroe, Cathal McAnenly, Roger Keenan and their backroom staff for bringing the Tyrone minors impressively to the final. As with the senior game another exciting encounter is anticipated when two very skilful high-scoring teams go head-to-head. Tyrone's performance against Meath was quite spectacular at times and their ball handling skills and movement were a joy to watch. Mayo's replay victory over Kerry was expected having seen them kick themselves out of victory in the first game, a game they dominated and should have won. As with Tyrone their skill levels were very high and they also seem to have a great team spirit within the squad. It was amazing to see so many young players from both these teams who were so calm and cool while in possession and playing in such an important game. Although Tyrone were convincing winners over Meath they were a little shaky at times in the opening quarter when some of their defenders gave a little too much room to their direct opponent. Perhaps the aforementioned coolness was at play here for despite losing possession initially they were always fit to prevent scores thanks to their tenacious tackling and cover by other players. However, they must always remember that their primary objective as a defender is to stop your opponent from gaining possession. It was disappointing to see Mattie Forde having to play through the first half of the Tyrone game obviously carrying an injury. It was unfortunate that Wexford's greatest player of recent times was not being able to have played a full part in one of Wexford's most historic days. Hopefully he will get another chance. Unfortunately, it may well be too late for some of the Waterford hurlers who took part in this years All-Ireland final. I'm sure many of them would love just one more chance to prove that they are not as bad of a team as the scoreline suggests - which of course they aren't. Alas, the speed cannot be maintained, the knocks take longer to heal and the long winter nights in heavy sod just doesn't appeal anymore. It would have been appropriate for players like Tony Browne, Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn to have climbed the steps of Croke Park on possibly their final county outing. I've no doubt that there will be strong debate throughout the county as to the rights and wrongs of some of the managerial decisions or preparations. I am, however, equally confident that Davy Fitz will be able to cope and will have learned greatly from his season in charge. Congratulations to Cormac McAnallen's GAC in Sydney for winning their first senior championship despite only being in their third year of existence. Well done to all concerned! Tweet

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