Desptie reaching an All-Ireland semi-final last year, Tyrone received just one All Star nomination.
Midfielder Colm Cavanagh was the county’s sole representative in last year’s All Star team with All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Mayo dominating selection with 13 representatives between them.
Paddy Power GAA ambassador and columnist with Paddy Power News Owen Mulligan believes that half back Peter Harte, midfielders Pádraig Hampsey and Cavanagh, and Connor McAliskey could all be potential All Stars at the end of the year.
“It’s very hard to get an All Star if you’re in the semi-final, you’re always going to get one, possibly two, but if you get to a final you’ve a greater chance, even if you lose,” said Mulligan.
“I think Peter Harte, Hampsey, Colm Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly are a potential four. If McAliskey has a good final, possibly him but being taken off in the last 10 minutes, the panel will look at that.
“He’s put in some serious scoring shifts this year. It all depends on who wins the match but Tyrone will have them four as a massive chance.”
Mulligan added that he believes that manager Mickey Harte will have a plan in place for Sunday’s All-Ireland final and that the fiery Tyrone in-house games should be a big part of their preparations.
“He has always come up with a plan,” added the former All Star of Harte.
“The likes of Cormac McAnellan was moved to full-back and it worked unbelievably. We marked the twin towers; Donaghy and Walsh.
“We trained them two weeks by putting Packie McConnell in at full-forward and lumping the balls in. In your head you’re already visualising.
“Another one would be he’ll play in house games with Dublin jerseys on. He has to create that scene and recreate that level whether you’re playing Dublin or not.
“Them in house games are not for the feint-hearted. I remember Stevie O’Neill was asked who was your best ever marker and he said Ricey.
“They asked was it a club game and he said it was an in-house game. He said Ricey was probably one of his toughest opponents. There’s blood spilled in them back in my day.
“I remember Kevin Hughes coming back on with a bandage. They were just that intense. Nobody spoke, it was just total warfare. I think Harte will do the same.
“I know he has reinvented himself over the years but I’d say he would have stuck with those in-house games with Dublin and Tyrone jerseys on.”
