I’ll Hamper the champs

Padraig’s ready to shackle Dub stars

PADRAIG HAMPSEY will happily do another marking job for Mickey Harte in the All-ireland final if asked to do so.

But the problem for Harte will be working out which Dublin dangerman he’ll want Hampsey to pick up.

A week on from looking after Donegal’s star turn Michael Murphy, Hampsey was tasked with keeping Monaghan’s main threat Conor Mcmanus quiet in last Sunday’s semi-final.

The omens weren’t good early on when the 30-year-old Farney hot-shot struck his side’s first score from in front of the Hogan Stand.

But it was the only one Mcmanus managed from play of his six points in total.

“I was just thinking of the next ball, next ball,” said Hampsey, recalling how he felt as Mcmanus’ right foot shot bisected the posts.

“I knew he was going to get a chance and to be fair he took it.

“I enjoyed it, it was a good tussle and he is a class

player.

“It was always going to be tough. He’s up there with the best forwards in Ireland. He’s smart. He bought a few frees.”

Monaghan fans might disagree with that assessment, given that they left Croke Park upset with referee Anthony Nolan’s performance.

However, Harte was pleased with a job well done by Hampsey – one of a group of All-ireland under-21 title winners from three years ago along with the likes of Frank Burns,

Kieran Mcgeary and Lee Brennan.

“He’s a very good player,” said the Red Hands boss (inset). “We have known that for a while.

“He’s so adaptable. He can go various places and put out various fires and we’re very confident in handing him any task at all.

“It’s good to have a player like that in your team but there’s many players with lots of abilities going forward or in a defensive job of man marking job and you need that.”

The Coalisland man was happy to oblige his boss.

“Whatever he assigns you to do, you get the head down and do it,” said Hampsey.

“You could be full-back one day and centre half-back or midfield. It’s doing a job for the team and that’s all that matters.”

The win was Tyrone’s first semi-final success in five attempts since last lifting the Sam Maguire in 2008.

Hampsey smiled: “For people in Tyrone it’s a massive thing to reach an All-ireland. “It’s been 10 years. I was at the final in 2008, in the Cusack with my oul fella.

“It was always class being there on the big day and it’s something to look forward to playing in one. “We’ll enjoy these next few weeks.”

Dublin’s array of forward options is vast and, on any given day, different talents can catch fire. That will be one of Harte’s major concerns over the next few weeks.

Hampsey acknowledged: “Dublin are the level you want to get to. They’re a class team, they’re going for four-in-a-row.

“It’s going to be very tough, but we’ll try our best. Finals are there to be played for.

“There’s always pressure and it’s always going to be nerve-wracking. I’m a nervous player as it is! But it’s one we will look forward to.”