Improving Tyrone to shade it

PETER CANAVAN’S retirement following Tyrone’s second All-Ireland SFC success two years ago presented Mickey Harte with the challenge of succeeding again without his most accomplished player.

As we know, a litany of injuries, the worst of which ruled out the very much under-rated Brian McGuigan, put paid to this ambition last year.

Now, back in Croke Park tomorrow as Ulster champions, they take on a Meath side which has grown steadily in confidence since they demolished Kildare in the first round in Leinster and won three qualifier games after going out to Dublin in a replay.