Mayo’s decision to deploy Aidan O’Shea at full-back to man-mark Kieran Donaghy isn’t the first rabbit from the tactics hat that the westerners have employed 2017 – Lee Keegan, drawn All-Ireland quarter-final v Roscommon.

Before we compliment the wizardry of Stephen Rochford, some words of praise for one of his predecessors, Pat Holmes, who successfully pulled off a trick or two in his spell at the Mayo helm.

After Donegal beat Cork in Ballyshannon in February, Neil McGee walked up the steps of the Aodh Ruadh clubhouse to speak to journalists. Concluding his duties, he wanted to know one result – how did Tyrone, a league lower, fare against Galway. “Good to know how the neighbours are getting on,” he smiled.

Tyrone 5-18 Cavan 2-17: Five goals and a five-star performance from Tyrone in reaching a first Ulster SFC final since 2010, but such was their dominance at Clones yesterday, nothing could be read into the final scoreline.

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

Derry manager Damian Barton has praised Kevin McStay for moving away from the pundit’s desk and entering inter-county management.

Captain Bryan Sheehan starts at right half-forward as one of two changes to the Kerry side for Sunday’s Allianz FL Division 1 final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

With the Allianz NFL in its second week, our GAA writers watched some of the tactical patterns unfurl.

Diving will not be upgraded to a black or red card this year, as the GAA’s playing rules committee requires more time to study the area.

Derry 4-6 Tyrone 1-16: Derry boss Damian Barton was left bemused after a controversial second-half red card helped Tyrone to victory in an pulsating McKenna Cup clash before before 5,179 spectators at Owenbeg.

Donaghy’s been unlucky, but so have other Kerry forwards

When it ended, Tiernan McCann slumped to his knees and hunkered down, rooted to the one spot for a solid two minutes before the weight of disappointment lifted enough for him to raise his head and eyes from the Croke Park turf.

3 key battles from yesterday’s All-Ireland semi-final...

Peter Crowley (Kerry) v Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)

To understand this Tyrone team, you must understand the depths from which they came.

James O’Donoghue has recovered to take his place in the Kerry side to play Tyrone in Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final in Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

When I think about this Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry, it gives me the tingles. 

Irish Examiner columnist Mike Quirke believes the antics of Tyrone’s best player influences the attitudes of his teammates.

On the basis of the announced team at least, Monaghan have chosen to leave well enough alone by naming the same 15 that started the Ulster final for tomorrow’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Tyrone.

Cailean O’Boyle comes in for Benny Heron in the only change in the Derry side for tomorrow night’s Ulster SFC semi-final clash with Donegal in St Tiernach’s Park in Clones (7pm).

Over 200km and a chasm in competitiveness separated Mayo’s defeat of Mayo and Donegal’s destruction of Armagh last Sunday afternoon but in the performances of Aidan O’Shea and Michael Murphy, there was at least one common thread.

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

The practice of sledging is all but non-existent in top level hurling, according to Henry Shefflin and Pat Horgan.

Justin McMahon insists that Tyrone have plenty of positives to take into the All-Ireland qualifier series.

"I am accustomed myself to not taking it personally and have sort of laughed it off through the years. But yeah, there will be players that can’t do that."

Thank God for the Ulster Championship! High intensity warfare packed with so many off-the-ball incidents that no amount of cameramen, never mind referees and officials, could possibly identify the culprits.

Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10: It wasn’t fitting that Donegal won nor was it that Tyrone lost. But there was no denying the appropriateness of Michael Murphy scoring the last three points of the game after enduring a dog of an afternoon.

Jim McGuinness has rejected commentary by Joe Brolly and Jarlath Burns about the state of Gaelic football.

Kerry were once again left hanging onto their Division 1 for dear life in Omagh but a draw was enough to see them save their skins.

Tyrone were plunged into a relegation crisis following a heavy defeat to north-west neighbours Donegal at Ballybofey today.

Dublin 1-9, Tyrone 0-12: Sometimes it’s as much what you don’t say as what you do.

Dublin plundered a point with a late Dean Rock goal at Croke Park, robbing Tyrone of a win they looked certain to claim.

Allianz FL Division 1 Round 2: Mayo 1-7 Tyrone 1-11: Rumours of Tyrone’s demise have been greatly exaggerated judging by the events that unfolded at MacHale Park, Castlebar yesterday.

Tyrone 0-9 Monaghan 1-13: Allianz Football League Division 1: It’s three years since Seamus McEneaney’s era ended and the obituaries were written for this generation of Monaghan footballers, but the team he built continues to show obvious signs of rude health under Malachy O’Rourke.

Tyrone 1-13 Cavan 0-10: Dr McKenna Cup final: Mickey Harte admitted Tyrone needed to "change the script" in order to secure another four-in-a-row of McKenna Cup titles after Saturday night’s win in the Athletic Grounds.

Tyrone turned on the power in the second half to shatter Breffni dreams and win a fourth successive Dr McKenna Cup title.

Armagh 1-7 Tyrone 3-10