Mind-games before the ball was even thrown in.
Mickey Harte is well known for his deep-thinking approach to his management role with Tyrone, whether he be plotting the downfall of opponents with some revolutionary tactics, or getting inside their heads with some cagey pre-match devilment.
Harte, and the Tyrone team were at their mischievous best before the ball was throw-in for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final clash with Dublin in Croke Park.
The teams warmed up as expected, with Dublin occupying their traditional Hill 16 end of the field, but the Tyrone mastermind saved his rattler for the parade.
The teams had completed half a lap of the field, and were on their way towards Hill 16, before the Ulster men broke off in unison and jogged towards the centre of the field.
Some might call it cowardly in not facing up to the verbals that the Dublin supporters might have been throwing at them from their standing point, while others might call it a brilliant reverse-psychology move to upset the Dubs.
Unfortunately for the men of Ulster, their bold move didn’t work out as planned, in the early stages of the game anyway, that’s for sure.
Dublin roared into an early lead, courtesy of a blockbuster Con O’Callaghan goal, and a few wonderful white flags from the boot of Ciaran Kilkenny, Paddy Andrews and Dean Rock.
Tyrone were much too slow off the mark, and by the 15th minute, they were already facing an uphill challenge, losing by 1-04 to 0-2.
By the interval, they had extended that lead to seven, on a scoreline of 1-09 to 0-5 with Con O’Callaghan on fire.
It’s not the first time the Tyrone lads got up to a bit of mischief with the Hill 16 crowd.
In the 1984 All-Ireland semi-final, the first ever meeting of the two sides, Tyrone warmed up at the Hill 16 end of the field.
That didn’t end well for them, with a Barney Rock inspired Dublin wielding the axe, and some 41 years on, the story wasn’t too dissimilar with his son Dean on top form.
The whole of Twitter took notice of the Tyrone team’s act, some enjoyed it, some not so much.
Love Tyrone breaking from parade before getting to the Hill. Biggest test for Dublin so far this year. Should be mighty
— Liam (@BingSharples) August 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/Lens1r2/status/901821867392204800
https://twitter.com/FintanMusic/status/901821641138868224
Tactical battle starts apace; Tyrone eschew walk in front of hill and break up pre-match parade..
— david kelly (@dk3lly) August 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/daraghs0/status/901821419385999365
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/901821204738314240
The Dublin population weren’t as happy about it.
Tyrone running scared from the Hill, broke off parade early… #DubsBlogger #DUBvTYR @FM104 @AIGIreland pic.twitter.com/XoF1K4LVEz
— FM104 Dubs Blog (@FM104DubBlogger) August 27, 2017
Disrespectful by #Tyrone to not complete the formalities in the parade,hope #Dublin hammer them. What goes around comes around #dublintyrone
— Ken Mc Fadden (@unspeakable28) August 27, 2017
Tyrone afraid of the hill 😁😉#DUBTYRONE #gaa
— Mark (@ByrneMark74) August 27, 2017
