Colin Sheridan: Tyrone are not a football team, they are a state of mind

There have been books written on the back of Tyrone’s utter indifference to tradition. Their defiance. The gargantuan chip on their persecuted shoulders. There should be another book written deconstructing Kerry’s dedication to hubris

Tyrone’s Cathal McShane consoles Kerry’s Paudie Clifford after the All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park at the weekend. No team has hurt Kerry in the last 20 years like Tyrone. Picture: Inpho/James Crombie

A few weeks back while strolling the beautiful beaches of Belmullet with an old friend of blue-blooded football stock, we passed that new breed of youngsters carrying surfboards and six-packs. An air of admirable self-confidence preceded each of them, an air foreign to a couple of washed-up club footballers some ways beyond their prime.

“I wonder if they know how the Ulster final is going?” I asked my friend, hilariously. “There’s more chance one of those lads is called Tyrone Monaghan then there is them watching Tyrone/Monaghan”, he drily countered.