Tyrone’s perfect ‘them and us’ scenario

“I sought a theme and sought for it in vain, I sought it daily for six weeks or so.” - WB Yeats, The Circus Animals’ Desertion

THE private and subtle sense of glee and schadenfreude amongst those who haven’t yet conceded Tyrone’s right to be at the top table of Gaelic football is at an all-time high this week. Not only are their senior team pointless after three outings in this year’s National Football League, their much-vaunted U21 conveyor belt ground to a halt against Derry in midweek.

On top of all that, a vulnerable looking Red Hand outfit will come face to face again in Healy Park in Omagh tonight with much of the Cork team that dismantled them so spectacularly with pace, power and intensity in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. If ever a manager wished to create a do-or-die situation and cultivate the siege mentality so beloved of many of the Ulster teams, Mickey Harte is presented with the perfect opportunity tonight.