Tyrone Take The Title

All Ireland SFC Final
Tyrone 1-15
Kerry  0-14

By Dermot Kavanagh

For the third time this decade Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has spooked a Kerry Manager and engineered a memorable Croke Park Championship win.  Pat O'Shea has now joined Paudie O Shea and Jack O'Connor as Kerry Managers who have been left floundering in Harte's wake in games which Kerry entered as firm favourites to win.

There was more at stake at Croke Park on Sunday than the destination of the Sam McGuire Cup.  The game was to decide the team of the decade. 

It was also an opportunity for Kerry to win 3-in-a-row of titles and, as importantly, an opportunity for Kerry to avenge the Tyrone defeats of 2003 and 2005, defeats that Kerry to this day have not fully accepted. 

Despite the Armagh defeat of 2002, and Tyrone defeats of 2003 and 2005, Kerry have never really accepted the purity and legitimacy of Ulster football.  One suspects that when they woke up on Monday morning they might have a less jaundiced view on the matter. 

Readers may recall that in this observer's preview of the game it was noted that if Tyrone negated the aerial threat of Donaghly and Tommy Walsh a Tyrone win could not be ruled out. 

That aerial threat was so successfully dealt with that Walsh was substuted in the second half and Donaghly can consider himself fortunate not only to have joined him on the bench but to actually have proceeded him there.

Played in summer like conditions before an attendance of 82,204 (the largest attendance at any sporting event over the weekend throughout Europe) this final will rank with the best of the modern era, with the second half being particularly memorably. 

Despite the tension of the day and the almost claustrophobic like nature of the marking there were little or no unsavoury incidents, and any that did occur were sensibly dealt with by referee Mick Deegan. While the opening 20 minutes or so were used by both teams as semi-sparring sessions for what was to follow, the game suffered little. 

For all that in terms of open football and tactical development as both sides sought physiological supremacy. 

That Kerry led by a single point (0-8 to 0-7) at the break just about reflected their supremacy in that half. 

The decisive moment of the first half came in the 20th minute when Sean Cavanagh's attempt at goal was brilliantly blocked by Declan O'Sullivan. 

Kerry immediately set up a sublime forward movement which ended when Pascal McConnell saved Walsh's goalbound shot. 

Tyrone then launched their own counterattack which ended when Brian Dooher scored a magnificent point despite three attempts by three individual Kerry players to push him over the sideline as he bore down on goal. Great stuff!

Tyrone began the 2nd half with tremendous focus and determination. 

They won the throw in and finished off a brilliant forward move when Tommy McGuigan side-footed the ball into the Kerry net. 

While Kerry would soon draw level and regain the lead, Tyrone had set down a marker with that goal. 

Over the next 20 minutes or so the game ebbed and flowed in a fashion not seen at a final in recent years. 

Despite the fact that Kerry were just about able to keep their noses in front, it was clear that Tyrone were warming to the task. 

With the Tyrone defence tightening the stranglehold on the Kerry attack the momentum of the game went Tyrone's way. 

Tyrone substute Kevin Hughes was now totally outplaying Kerry's Darragh O'Shea, and they swept forward in wave after wave of attacks. 

By the 66th minute Tyrone had gone one point in front through Cavanagh's brilliant point. 

Then came the game's real turning point.  In a rare Kerry attack Declan O'Sullivan's clever goal bound shot was brilliantly saved by McConnell at the expense of a 45 which Bryan Sheehan sent wide. 

From the kick out Tyrone regained possession and surged forward for McGinley to put his side two points in front. 

Before Kerry could realise that their title aspirations were being crushed Tyrone scored two further points to seal the win. 

This was a magnificent Tyrone victory.  Their game plan of absorbing the best that Kerry could offer, and then making the winning surge worked perfectly. 

That Kerry failed to score in the final 13 minutes perfectly exemplifies the ruthless effectiveness of Tyrone's strategy. 

All of the Tyrone substutes, O'Neill, McGuigan, Mulligan and Hughes contributed to the win. 

Regrettably for Kerry apart from Darren O'Sullivan, none of their substutes, particularly the highly controversial Paul Galvin, helped the cause.

In summary, Tyrone achieved a memorable win in an enthralling game.  For Kerry the Tyrone nightmare continues while one suspects that their near neighbours Cork will not be unhappy with the result.