Magnificent O’Neill lights up Croker

IT was billed as the night to kick-start the GAA’s 125thanniversary celebrations but when last Saturday is recalled in years to come, it will be as the day Stephen O’Neill announced his second coming.

O’Neill was the one man in Tyrone not to celebrate their third All-Ireland success with abandon last September. His dramatic comeback had yielded only a muted display against Kerry but here was a triumphant return to form.

Eight points he kicked, six from play. The highlight was an outrageous chip over the Dublin crossbar from an angle most mortals wouldn’t even consider. Eye of the needle stuff.