In adversity, Tyrone will find more than Mayo

I left Croke Park on the Sunday of August weekend like so many more, stunned by Mayo’s apparent lust to avenge not just last September’s beating but every other defeat and cursed day they’ve had in the great stadium. It was relentless, it was remorseless and it was a thing of beauty.

But for all that it must be said that Donegal were a beaten team from very early in the day. It was apparent in Michael Murphy’s frustration in the 19th minute when he shot needlessly under pressure. It was in every gesture of Anthony Thompson during his brief time on the field. It was in the understandable weariness in Karl Lacey’s stride and it was there all day in the amount of flailing Donegal arms in the tackle. There were plenty of those “oops, I just missed the tackle and took myself out of the game there” moments that betray a jaded team. Donegal had played themselves out. The hamsters were tired of the treadmill and Mayo went to town on them.

There was so much to admire in the way Mayo went about their business three weeks ago. The performance of Aidan O’Shea at centrefield has drawn enough loose talk at this stage, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of Mayo’s game against Donegal was the quiet and understated excellence of his brother Seamus alongside him.