Kerry Galvin-ised to meet challenge

After winning the 2007 All-Ireland final against Cork, Paul Galvin told the media that “the last 100 years was riding on that 70 minutes of football. The fear of losing to Cork was driving us”.

In his mid-20s at the time, his words illustrated his ability to harness the dread of being remembered in infamy.

Now 32, a bit of fear about losing a fourth championship game to Tyrone wouldn’t go astray.

It’s not an emotion one would usually associate with such a seasoned team but while reputations may not be on the line another defeat to them would be another blot on the copybook and possibly end some inter-county careers.

For Galvin and Tomás Ó Sé, of the teams they have faced in championship fare, Tyrone is the only team they have failed to beat.

Excluding Cork, Galvin has only ever tasted championship defeat once when starting a game — against Tyrone in the 2005 All-Ireland final.

His mention here is relevant in the context of last Sunday’s win over Westmeath in which he showed hints that he is returning to form.

The 2009 Footballer of the Year’s energy and touch was much more impressive than it had been in Munster. He has all the artillery to cut through a Tyrone defence that hasn’t been impressive this summer.

They weren’t as close to Donegal as some might suggest, finding Jim McGuinness’ side so much more physical than them.

Kerry can expect to work for every inch for a win against a hard-working outfit that may lack the bit of class and composure to retire a team like Kerry.

It’s not the same Tyrone but were Kerry to lose this evening, history will show it was Tyrone who became the first team to knock them out of the championship at the qualifiers stage.

There’s more at stake for them and they should win.

Verdict: Kerry