Éamonn Fitzmaurice: A perfect mix for Tyrone boss O'Rourke ahead of tangle with champions

When Malachy O’Rourke’s reflects today on Tyrone's performance, he will realise it was perfect for his purposes.

ARM'S LENGTH: Cavan’s Sean McEvoy tackles Kieran McGeary of Tyrone. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho

Tyrone have set up a mouth watering semi-final clash with their near neighbours and bitter rivals in a fortnight, after winning a strange game in Omagh against Cavan yesterday. The fact that Armagh are All-Ireland champions will only add to the pyrotechnics. 

For much of the game there was so much admire about the home team but they allowed Cavan back into it with a poor final quarter that took some of the gloss off the performance. Malachy O’Rourke’s body language suggested as much after. When he reflects this morning he will realise that in many ways it is perfect for him. He will be able to go back to his players this week and praise them on how good they can be when they are at it. He will also be able to challenge them on their ordinariness when they aren’t. Job done, with work to do.