Battered and bruised Tyrone are feeling the pain

MICKEY HARTE and Tyrone are fast becoming accustomed to life as NFL and All-Ireland champions. And they have the bruises to prove it.

Their battling clash with Dublin in Sunday's Division 1A opener was a tough, physical battle with no quarter asked, or given. But that is one of the hazards of being top of the GAA footballing pedestal - everyone is lining up in a bid to knock you off.

"I had no complaints whatsoever," Harte admitted after Sunday's defeat. "Dublin played better football, they were hungrier for the ball and they played with a great intensity. They deserved to win."

But he quickly admitted that the celebrations of the past six months had damaged Red Hand preparations.

"I would have to give huge credit to the players. They probably have not as much training done as they should have at this time of the year, due to the celebrations," he remarked.

"It was a very intense game, but I was not surprised because we had a great game with Dublin in the third round last year, when they won by a point as well. We did not lose a match after that and if that is an omen, I would be glad to have it!

"There is a magnetism about playing the champions. When everyone goes out against them, they want to measure themselves against them and they want to take them on We do not want to lose games. We are not gong out experimenting. We will be going out to win."

Dublin's assistant manager, Paul Caffrey agrees that Tyrone can expect some very heavy competition in their upcoming games.

"Now that they are the All-Ireland champions, they are the benchmark for every team. They come with strong credentials, in terms of their minor and U21 set-up for the last few years. They have an awful lot of qualify players that are coming on stream," he commented.

"Our performance showed that the lads were up for it and that is all we asked for. In terms of our success in the All-Ireland U21 championship last year, an awful lot of work has gone into development squads in the last number of years. We had two minor teams that were very close to winning an All-Ireland and we contested two U21 finals winning one and losing the other.

"Our ambition is to make it to the All-Ireland quarter-finals in August. We failed last year and we were very disappointed. But, it's a new year, so we are looking forward. Not back!"

Dual player Shane Ryan, who confirmed that he is concentrating on football, felt that Dublin won Sunday's game for the reason that 'they gave as good as they got.'

"If you don't have the right application against Tyrone, you will get beaten off the pitch."

In terms of the game being played in Parnell Park, Ryan said he believed that Dublin would much prefer to be playing in Croke Park. "I don't think it gives us any advantage playing at home. I can't understand why people think that we do not want to play in Croke Park," he added.

With Peter Canavan now ruled out until June, while he rests after his ankle operation, Harte pointed out that he would be trying to put out his best team in every game.