Cork are Tyrone's biggest threat, says Brolly

July 01, 2009
Joe Brolly has claimed that Cork, and not Kerry, are now the biggest threat to Tyrone in the race for the Sam Maguire. The outspoken RTE pundit believes Tyrone hold the Indian sign over the Kingdom and that Cork have now emerged as the most serious threat to the reigning All-Ireland champions. "Cork have to dominate Kerry if they're to win an All-Ireland and that process is well underway," the former Derry star said. "Unlike the last couple of seasons, when I said the preceding games were meaningless, this is different. Cork dismantled Monaghan in Croke Park. People said Monaghan weren't up for it, but their strength has always been in the middle third of the field which they turned it into a quagmire for Kerry in recent years, only for Kieran Donaghy to rescue them. Cork dominated there totally against Monaghan." He continued: "There are real signs that Tyrone have put Kerry in terminal decline. Jack O'Connor came back solely to work out the Tyrone conundrum and he may have underestimated the psychological damage Tyrone have inflicted on his squad. "I think deep down the Kerry players feel they can't beat Tyrone in a big game in Croke Park. Last year was their greatest opportunity and in spite of the fact that they had such a devastating full-forward line, and that Tyrone were shorn of their best forwards, Tyrone still beat them and without playing that well." And even though Kerry defeated Tyrone in this year's NFL, Brolly feels Mickey Harte's side still came out of the Omagh clash with a "psychological advantage". He said: "At half-time Tyrone were about 10 down but then stuck into Kerry and cut them in two in the second half. The clock just ran out on them. Even though Tyrone lost that game they came out with a psychological advantage. Kerry haven't learned anything from Tyrone. Declan O'Sullivan still goes on long solo runs out of his own defence, the Kerry backs set up man-to-man and their midfield remains immobile."

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