This was some way to celebrate a homecoming of sorts for Galway manager Pádraic Joyce as he took charge of the side for the first time at Tuam Stadium.

What has been a good week for Tyrone football could be about to get even better.

Spring break in the National Football League, and after three rounds of drama including timekeeping issues, ridiculous red cards and a fixture list designed by Jared Kushner, there exists much food for thought, even if the conclusions are pretty much the same.

Our writers look ahead to the major talking points ahead of the weekend's Allianz League action.

All-Star full-forward Cathal McShane has revealed his decision to knock back an AFL contract and to continue his quest for an All-Ireland with Tyrone was a tough call that came "down to the wire".

AFL club Adelaide Crows have claimed Cathal McShane felt he was “not ready” to embark on an Australian Rules football career.

Tyrone All-Star Cathal McShane has decided against a career in Australian Rules football.

Seamus Moynihan has increased the pressure on the GAA to intervene in the ongoing recruitment of talented young players by the AFL, claiming the situation is “insane”.

While he may have turned up and been a discreet presence for Tyrone’s opening league win over Meath on the first day of the Allianz Leagues, last year’s top-scorer in the Championship, Cathal McShane, was not believed to be present for Tyrone’s inept defeat to Monaghan in Castleblayney.

This wasn’t the first time that Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney managed a Monaghan win over Tyrone, but what’s rare is precious as he allowed a small smile play on his lips after this most commanding of wins. “It’s my second,” he told reporters.

Our writers pick out the main talking points from the weekend’s Allianz League action.

Monaghan were absolute value for a commanding victory over Tyrone in Castleblayney, making amends for their narrow opening day loss away to Galway.

The harsh and punishing reality of life among Gaelic football’s elite stared Meath in the face as they made their return to Division One after a 14-year absence.

Cathal McShane was not the only Irishman touching down in Australia this week to trial for an AFL club.

McKenna Cup specialists Tyrone lifted their eighth title in nine seasons with an uninspiring win over Monaghan at the Athletic Grounds.

Mickey Harte learned last week that it is impossible to change the mind of a young Irish person who has decided to leave Ireland.

Nick Dal Santo has pinpointed kicking ability alongside AFL-ready athleticism and conditioning for making GAA players increasingly attractive to Aussie Rules clubs, with many of the native products not possessing the same ball skills.

Jim Gavin is gone but his words as much as his deeds in inter-county Gaelic football remain.

Tyrone’s current All-Star full-forward Cathal McShane’s links with a move to Australian Rules are not as clearcut as originally claimed.

Owen Mulligan says Cathal McShane is entitled to pursue an Aussie Rules career, amid calls for the GAA to cut ties with the AFL since reports emerged of the All-Star full-forward's potential move.

Mickey Harte hasn’t given up hope of holding on to All-Star attacker Cathal McShane as speculation intensifies that he is on his way to an Aussie Rules career with the Brisbane Lions.

McEntee made his comments after Meath’s 4-16 to 1-15 O’Byrne Cup win over Laois, a game watched by county title winner Conor Nash, who is now established in the AFL with Hawthorn.

A local report in Tyrone has claimed 2019 All-Star Cathal McShane is on the brink of starting an AFL career with Brisbane Lions.

Connor McAliskey has left the Tyrone squad, and will play no part in the Red Hands’ challenge for honours in 2020.

It almost isn’t fair.

When Mickey Harte acknowledged last spring that Tyrone required more height and physicality in their attack, he was hoping the ploy would pay off with an occasion like last Friday night.

Stephen Cluxton has been named Footballer of the Year for the first time in his career.

Having twice been shortlisted for the top individual award, six-time All-Ireland winning captain Stephen Cluxton is in the shake-up to claim his first footballer of the year as one of Dublin’s 13 PwC All-Star nominations.

The Kerry forward line can do serious damage but you’d have to worry about the supply of ball they are going to receive, which makes this All-Ireland final a bridge too far for them.

Paul Murphy, unsurprisingly, didn’t enjoy how Tyrone set themselves up in the All-Ireland semi-final earlier this month.

Talk of Dublin’s drive of five, or Kerry somehow bringing a halt to it will grow inescapably deafening in the next few days.

And so what stands between Dublin and immortality is the county that itself was denied that very place in history on another All-Ireland final day.

How cute is Peter Keane?

One hasn’t really lived as a journalist unless you’ve pointed a recording device at a winning manager and posed the most pointless question of them all: What was said in the dressing-room at half-time?

Mission accomplished for Peter Keane and his men. They are where they want to be.

A rousing second-half Kerry display ensured it will be they who are the last men standing between Dublin and the five-in-a-row that eluded the Kingdom in 1982.

If Tyrone are to pile more misery on Kerry and reach successive All-Ireland finals, chances are flame-haired target man Cathal McShane will be tormentor -in-chief.

Protect the D and Pepper The D: Kerry know that an aerial bombardment is coming their way and they must protect the D with their lives. Tadgh Morley and Jason Foley have the ability to break even with the Tyrone duo of Donnelly and McShane but naturally they need some help.

Amazing the things you pick up while out and about.

Getting the match-ups right has gone a long way for Kerry and Mayo in recent years. We think of Aidan O’Mahony on Michael Murphy in the 2014 final, Lee Keegan on Enda Smith in the 2017 All-Ireland quarter-final replay and just last weekend Patrick Durcan tagging Ryan McHugh.

Fake football was the order of the day in Omagh as the biggest indictment of a Championship format unfit for purpose was served up.

Instead of pointing it out himself, which he so easily could have done, Mickey Harte waited for a member of the assembled media to mention the fact that this was the first time Tyrone have reached five All-Ireland semi-finals in one decade.

Cork may have lost their third competitive game of the summer and exited the championship but do so with their heads held high.

A come-from-behind second-half effort secured Tyrone their second win of the Super 8s series and, in the process, all but guaranteed themselves an All-Ireland semi-final berth.