Red Hands are real contenders

THE biggest single statement of the 2017 championship so far has been made by Tyrone. One of the things I got right in my Saturday column was that I said they couldn’t keep missing those wides – and that if they converted their chances they would beat Donegal. People talk about Kerry in their pomp and the Dublin of the last 5 years, but there has been no greater performance in point-taking from distance in 35 minutes than last Sunday. It was majestic stuff. But more than that, tactically Rory Gallagher was blown to smithereens as Mickey Harte came back with one of his greatest ever feats. As I had said, Tyrone were lacking in confidence and skill and were a wasteful bunch. As he’s done in the past, Mickey blew it all up in smoke as three things changed in Clones. Firstly - Tyrone’s mindset has changed. Stylistically, they’re playing football and want to move the ball so fast. Secondly - Their foot-passing was a joy. Lastly - Their point taking from general play was absolutely out of the top drawer. They scored 1-21 and it should have been 3-30. If they keep that going then they can put that up to anybody – and I mean anybody. Their stars were centre-forward Niall Sludden, right half-back Tiernan Mccann and the most underrated performer in Ireland, Colm Kavanagh, who would be the first name in my team every week. He’s the most unselfish player but he’s a superb performer. And I’ve a smile on my face at the emergence of another serious All-ireland contender. COLIN Kelly is the first managerial casualty of the summer but at least he walked away on his own terms. He knew he could take Louth no further after winning two promotions. But I know Colin and he’ll be very disappointed with the way his team bowed out of the Championship. After Saturday’s qualifier defeat he decided to get out. “We’re going on empty,” he told me. I asked him why Louth hadn’t really kicked on in Championship, and he replied: “After we finished the league, a competition we could win, we entered one we had no hope of winning. “We took our foot off the gas and were on a downward spiral.” In essence, Louth’s Championship is the league. Whoever takes them on now, it’s paramount that they build on the undoubted young talent there and turn a league team into a Championship team. Colin leaves with a strong legacy.