Fairytales not in Tyrone script

IT is only six years since Tyrone themselves were the ultimate fairytale story, emerging from the shadows to secure their first ever All-Ireland senior title, but Mickey Harte’s side have long left sentimentality to one side.

A youthful and exuberant Antrim side came calling to Clones yesterday, buoyed by two historic back-to-back Ulster championship victories and a sea of saffron that claimed ownership of the famous hill terrace at St Tiernach’s Park.

They needed a good start, one that would wash away the doubts and the nerves, but Tyrone had read their thoughts and knew that they could keep the genie in the bottle with a strong opening of their own.