The bookies think Dublin will win by at least five. Tyrone men think that’s nuts.
It’s All-Ireland final weekend but the build-up would hardly suggest that the whole country has been gripped.
In Dublin, they’re expecting to win. In 30 other counties, they’re expecting a boring precision. In Tyrone? Well, if you haven’t heard, they’ve made quite a habit of upsetting the applecart.
Six times Mickey Harte has taken a Tyrone team to the All-Ireland final. Six times he’s won.
- Minors 1998
- Under-21 2000
- Under-21 2001
- Senior 2003
- Senior 2005
- Senior 2008
He’s won six All-Irelands and won the county’s only three senior titles and he’s done it all in the face of unthinkable adversity.
Family tragedy, the death of team mates, the Omagh bombing in 1998, Tyrone have risen through the harshest of times, guided by the hand of Mickey Harte.
In 2003, in 2005 and in 2008, when they made it the whole way to the third Sunday of September, they were underdogs every time. In all three occasions, they were coming up against the All-Ireland champions and, every time, they were expected to lose.
Mickey Harte still hasn’t lost and perhaps that’s why some of his finest servants expect Tyrone to overcome the odds yet again on Sunday.
On The GAA Hour live show at The Sugar Club ahead of the final against Dublin, Owen Mulligan, Ryan McMenamin and Joe McMahon all predicted a Tyrone win.
And Ricey believes the Red Hands will channel the same two words that his team did 10 years ago.
“Kerry were going for three-in-a-row and there are a lot of similarities here,” he said.
“Usually when we got to the final, Mickey took us to another level and, with Kerry, it was kind of like, “fuck it…”
“Honestly, it’s the same this year. People are getting worried about Dublin but Tyrone are just going to go down and say, “fuck it.”“
Maybe if they played 10 times, Dublin would win nine. Maybe it would’ve been the same with the great Kerry in 2008 who, like Dublin, won four All-Irelands in six years. But Mickey Harte and Tyrone have history of taking their chances.
Their one chance.
“I think Paddy Power are offering Tyrone +6 in the handicap. That’s fucking crazy, like. I think Tyrone will win,” McMenamin continued.
“Tyrone have nothing to lose and, when men have nothing to lose, when you’re backed into a corner with nothing to lose, you’ll give it your all.
“It’s only one game. The pressure’s on Dublin. If Tyrone get beat, we’re expected to get beat. But Dublin are expected to win and it’s a massive difference.”
His old team mates backed him up.
Owen Mulligan
“It’s a massive, massive ask for Tyrone. We all know that. But somewhere – somewhere down that line, Dublin have to get beat some time.
“I’ve seen them play well and I’ve seen them play shit but, when they click, they’re pretty impressive. It’s a big, big ask but… I think we can do it.”
Joe McMahon
“They’ve nothing to lose here and I think it’ll be a lot closer than people think.”
