Red Hands dig deepest

Tyrone 1-16 Kerry 2-10

It was how they calmly came to terms with their inadequacies and Kerry’s dominant play for most of the first half and then came back so strongly.

Their more demanding campaign assisted them considerably in mounting a winning challenge given huge impetus by Peter Canavan’s classic goal just before the break and later on by outstanding defence, crucial in limiting the threat from Colm Cooper.

For all the disappointment at letting their title slip, Kerry showed character in their attempt to save the game.

Tomas Ó Sé’s opportunist goal in the 56th minute gave them real hope of salvaging their title, but when it mattered most, Tyrone who had the scoring power to surge in front.

It would be simplistic to suggest the game was won and lost in the first half, because so much happened afterwards to influence the outcome.

But, from a Kerry perspective, it was especially noteworthy they failed to build up a lead when they were in the ascendancy at midfield and captain Declan O’Sullivan was continually on the ball around the half-forward line.

Scores were level at 0-2 each in the 6th minute before Cooper’s ingenuity (and a mistake by left corner-back Michael McGee), left Dara Ó Cinnéide with the relatively easy task of putting the ball in the net.

Yet all they managed after that was a point from Eoin Brosnan (when he was asserting himself at full-forward) in the 16th minute and two points in the five minutes before half-time.

It begs the question, what happened to change the course of the game and, ultimately put Tyrone in the position of being able to dictate the trend of the play? One factor was Cooper was not so prominent for a period after suffering an injury in an off-the-ball incident in the 9th minute.

The substantive issue was Kerry just failed to function as an attacking force, even when plenty of ball was going into the forward line. Darragh Ó Sé was dominating against Sean Cavanagh, who didn’t perform until the second half and Tomas Ó Sé was very effective until Tyrone captain Brian Dooher began to progress against him. Neither Paul Galvin nor Liam Hassett made any contribution at half-forward. And soon, the effectiveness of Brosnan and Cooper was blunted.

That was where the Tyrone recovery was initiated, but it took them a long time to put real pressure on the Kerry defence. Surprisingly, the northerners showed a lack of creativity for a period when trying to work the ball through from midfield.

Nevertheless, the form of Brian McGuigan (arguably their top player, other than Ryan Mellon), was encouraging at centre-forward. And, he also came near to goaling in the 17th minute, kicking into the side-netting. Once the team dynamic came into play, Peter Canavan and Owen Mulligan promised much more.

A Mulligan free and one from play from McGuigan (set up by O’Neill) boosted Tyrone entering the last ten minutes of the half and Dooher really lifted them with a terrific score from 60 yards in the 27th minute. In addition to levelling, it also marked a turning point because Tyrone were to go on to be three points in front, 1-8 to 1-5, at the break. For that, the Tyrone backs could take credit in snuffing out the threat from Kerry’s attack but in real terms it was Canavan’s goal in the 36th minute which transformed their challenge. Brilliantly taken in that he guided the ball into the net rather than trying to blast it, it was made by Mulligan with a high catch.

While Canavan didn’t appear for the second half, it was obvious Harte intended using him as an impact sub in the way he did in the 2003 final (when he was injured) and indeed, the strategy was to reap a rich dividend.

By and large, the initiative was to stay with Tyrone until Tomas Ó Sé’s goal and it was reflected in them stretching their lead to five points within 16 minutes of the resumption. By now, Cavanagh had thundered into the game, making powerful runs down the left flank. Likewise, O’Neill began to threaten and Ryan Mellon, who had made two terrific high catches soon after the restart, was to do excellent work in the half-forward line.

Kerry needed a goal badly and it might have come sooner than it did but for a crucial interception by wing-back Davy Harte on Brosnan. Significantly, it was from a block on a Brosnan shot 15 minutes later which presented Tomas Ó Sé with the opportunity to fire home and give Kerry an unexpected lifeline. The margin was now down to a single point and anything looked possible, especially when the holders started to win more ball again around midfield.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of Tyrone’s defensive play - to which McMenamin and Conor Gormley contributed hugely and veteran Chris Lawn was an invaluable substitute - meant Cooper was denied the ball. The Kerry attack was not exerting great pressure, with Declan O’Sullivan having faded and Mike Frank Russell ineffective after replacing Ó Cinnéide.

By now Canavan was back on the field, lifting Tyrone with a fantastic point from an acute angle in the 59th minute. Brosnan, Kerry’s best forward over the last quarter, made a dashing run through the centre before being pulled down and while Cooper’s free brought the margin back to a point, that was the nearest Kerry got before Tyrone surged in front.

After O’Neill put over a difficult free, Cooper came back with what would prove Kerry’s last score. The title looked destined for Tyrone, with vital breaks going their way, yet in the third minute of injury time substitute Brian Sheehan almost snatched a draw with a shot at goal.

But, just like two years ago - when Conor Gormley made a dramatic block on Steven McDonnell - it seemed Tyrone were destined to win.

* Mick Monahan can feel very pleased with his handling of his first final. Apart from a few questionable calls near the end of the game, he kept mistakes to the minimum.

Scorers: Tyrone - O. Mulligan 0-5 (0-1 free); P. Canavan 1-1; S. O’Neill 0-4 (0-2 frees); B. McGuigan 0-3; R. Mellon 0-2; P. Jordan 0-1. Kerry: C. Cooper 0-5 (0-2 frees); D. O Cinneide 1-1 (0-1 free); T. O Se 1-0; E. Brosnan and D. O Se 0-2 each.

TYRONE: P. McConnell; M. McGee, J. McMahon, R. McMenamin; D. Harte, C. Gormley, P. Jordan; E. McGinley, S. Cavanagh; B. Dooher (capt.), B. McGuigan, R. Mellon; O. Mulligan, S. O’Neill, P. Canavan. Subs: C. Holmes for Canavan (second half); C. Lawn for McMahon (injured, 48th minute); Canavan for McGinley (55th).

KERRY: D. Murphy; M. McCarthy, A. O’Mahony, T. O’Sullivan; T. Ó Sé, M. Ó Sé, S. Moynihan; D. Ó Sé, W. Kirby; L. Hassett, D. O’Sullivan (capt.),P. Galvin; C. Cooper, E. Brosnan, D. Ó Cinnéide.

Subs: M.F. Russell for Hassett (42nd minute); Darren O’Sullivan for Ó Cinnéide (61st); E. Fitzmaurice for Moynihan and B. Sheehan for Galvin (68th).

Referee: M. Monahan (Kildare).

Attendance: 82,112 (biggest since 1963, Dublin v Galway - 87,106).