Tyrone staying focused

TWELVE months ago, in Clones, it was so different. Tyrone’s historic breakthrough in winning their first ever Allianz National Football League title was celebrated in style on the field after the final whistle had been sounded by the same referee who officiated in Croke Park yesterday.

Team captain Peter Canavan spent a good ten minutes being kissed and hugged, signing autographs and giving interviews, proudly holding one of his children in his arms. GAA followers everywhere delighted in the fact that one of the game’s outstanding exponents had an overdue day in the sun.

This time, immediately after he had received the trophy from new President Sean Kelly, he headed for the dressingroom, followed by the rest of his teammates. It wasn’t because it was raining, more to do with the matter-of-fact manner in which their victory was greeted second time around.

“Not the same, to be honest, not the same. But we are delighted to have won it and retained the title,” he explained.

“The idea at the beginning of the League for us was to progress and develop in it, by bringing in new players and prepare for the championship. Even though we reached the semi-final and the final, that was still our aim.”

It seems that even the Tyrone supporters are blasé about the League, given the small proportion of them in the 30,000-plus crowd. They have learned, too, he says, that winning the League is no guarantee of success. But, they’ll be out in force for the championship game with Derry on Sunday week.

Predictably, he had reservations about aspects of their performance, agreeing that it took a while ‘to wear’ Laois down and that they lost their way ‘a wee bit’ in the last ten minutes of the first half. It was ‘a solid enough’ performance.

“We were creating chances and although we did miss a few goal chances, the points were ticking over,” he added.

Suffering just minor bruising after an early knock on the knee, Canavan attributed the low-key reaction all round to the lessons the team has learned. “I suppose that comes from winning it last year and getting ‘a good going-over’ in the championship. That teaches you winning the League and playing well in the League doesn’t guarantee you anything come championship time.

“If anything, teams are on guard, they know your style of play better from watching you. Teams will be ready for us. People might say that in a way you’re setting yourself up, so that will keep people on their guard, keep their feet firmly on the ground.”

He agreed that the management achieved their objective of expanding the panel, commenting: “there is definitely competition for places, which can only be a good thing.

“I’m sure Micky (Harte) is delighted with that. It’s a headache for him, but one I’m sure he is not complaining about!”

And, he is sympathetic towards the plight of Laois, having to play championship next Sunday.

“We played Derry in a League final in 1992 and had to play the following week again, so it is difficult. Two weeks should give us time to recover from knocks and strains, so we can’t complain.”