You imagine as the Kerry party left Croke Park yesterday evening they were preparing a case for the defence of Stephen O’Brien.

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

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.

Perhaps it will be Stephen O’Brien that he follows around Croke Park come Sunday. Or maybe Sean O’Shea if he’s not playing as an inside forward. But whatever task Tyrone’s Conor Meyler is handed this weekend, he will not lack for resilience.

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.

Twelve months ago against Mayo in the famous ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ Qualifier, quality Kildare forwards like Niall Kelly, Paddy Brophy, Paul Cribben, and Daniel Flynn were inspirational.

It’s taken him the best part of three years, but Michael Cassidy’s perseverance and patience have paid off.

The Cluxton kickout

When Mike Tyson was asked if he was concerned about the plan that the more strategic Evander Holyfield would bring to their title fight, the champ dismissively replied: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.

Dublin 2-17 Tyrone 1-14

Michael Murphy gave us a glimpse of his past brilliance on Saturday. Past brilliance as one of the best Number 14s in GAA history. He has dominated hundreds of ‘squares’ for the best part of a decade.

Tyrone escaped from Navan with a narrow win and a place in the second round of the Qualifier series, squeezing out a courageous Meath side in an extra-time thriller.

A first win over Kerry since 2010, Tyrone rounded off their Division 1 campaign with a treasured scalp even if it ultimately counted for little.

Omagh 0-10, Errigal Ciaran 0-8...Omagh’s second Tyrone SFC triumph in four years owes much to a sound defensive system with former Tyrone star Joe McMahon at its heart.

Kieran McGeary’s feet have barely touched the ground in the past two seasons.

Sigerson Cup Final 

UCC were given every chance to bring this Sigerson Cup semi-final to extra-time. They squandered the lot and so St Mary’s will contest their first decider in 24 years this afternoon.

Ronan McNabb will play no part in Tyrone’s Ulster Football Championship opener against Derry on Sunday week.

St Mary’s 1-11 Dublin IT 2-6 (AET): St Mary’s set up a Belfast derby quarter-final with 2016 Sigerson Cup hosts UUJ as they fought back to beat DIT in extra-time on Garvaghey’s 3G pitch.

Kerry will field eight starters from last September’s All-Ireland final loss to Dublin when they open the Allianz Football League Division 1 against Dublin in Croke Park tomorrow night (7pm).

Tyrone 1-22 Derry 1-17 (AET): Derry assistant manager Tony Scullion defended Damian Barton after the Oak Leaf boss was sent to the stand for getting involved in a brawl during Saturday night’s dramatic McKenna Cup final.

Old foes Tyrone and Derry served up a classic at the Athletic Grounds, with the Red Hands emerging victorious in extra-time to take a fifth successive Dr McKenna Cup title.

Next year’s Congress is likely to vote on a motion upgrading a dive from a yellow card to a black or red card offence in the wake of the Tiernan McCann case.

On paper, the turnaround has been remarkable.

Love conquers all. And so can pride and ego.

We’ll come to the football shortly but first yesterday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final where Brian Gavin did well but should have awarded more frees.

Stephen O’Brien replaces Johnny Buckley in the only change to the Kerry side for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final with Kildare in Croke Park (2pm).

Tipperary 0-7 Tyrone 0-19: A landmark afternoon for Tyrone football’s favourite son. Sean Cavanagh was the final player to disappear underneath the Kinane Stand shortly after 5pm on Saturday, a number of visiting and, indeed, home supporters requesting a picture on what was a historic outing for the 32-year old.

Monaghan. March 3, 2012. A turning point in Chrissy McKaigue’s career.

Tyrone withstood a barrage of late Tipperary pressure to secure the county’s fifth All-Ireland U21 football title this evening.

Tyrone 1-11 Donegal 0-13: Tyrone converted an injury-time free to win a first Ulster U21 title in nine years last night, condemning Donegal to a third final defeat in a row at this grade.

Two first-half goals against Armagh helped Tyrone into the Ulster U21 final for the first time in three years last night.

Tyrone 0-17 Fermanagh 0-07: Mark Bradley and Mark Kavanagh formed a deadly strike force as Tyrone booked a place in the Ulster U21 Championship semi-finals.

AIB ULSTER CLUB SFC FINAL:

Omagh (Tyrone) 2-8 Crossmaglen (Armagh) 1-9