John Fogarty: Tyrone demonstrate that champions hold onto their best

Tyrone would not be All-Ireland champions had Conor McKenna and Cathal McShane remained in Australia

Conor McKenna, left, and Cathal McShane of Tyrone celebrate after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Mayo and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

HAMSTRING injuries meant Mark O’Connor and Zach Tuohy were not available to Geelong as they were hockeyed by 83 points in last Friday’s AFL preliminary semi-final.

It was an undignified end to the season for the Kerry and Laois men and their fellow Cats in what is the sport’s equivalent of an All-Ireland semi-final. Although, it has now emerged that six of their players lined out against Melbourne Demons with a virus, which had ripped through the squad and left many of them bedridden and suffering fever 48 hours before the game.