The evolution of Tyrone

ALLIANZ FL DIV 1:

Replaced by Donegal and Dublin at the top of the heap, was this merely a pair of has-beens slugging it out for pittance off the strip? A lot of Kerry supporters and a handful of their players convinced themselves it was a win more than its true worth as the Tyrone following strenuously played it down when their team’s season had climaxed for Donegal and fell away thereafter.

Despite the billing, the game was less than it appeared, but then neither was it a false dawn for the hosts or a false dusk for the visitors. 13 months later and the headline pugilists of the 2000s had reached All-Ireland semi-finals off campaigns that could be believed in.