HARD TASK MASTERS

Tyrone hero Gormley knows Dubs throw up a huge challenge but toppling them would help take youthful Red Hands to next level

last year’s All-ireland final.

Most of the current Tyrone team don’t know what it feels like to take Dublin’s scalp and while he’s a huge fan of the five-in-a-row chasing Allireland champions, Gormley is hoping Tyrone can spring a surprise tonight.

“Mickey Harte will use past defeats as motivation. If used in the correct way, it can be useful,” said the Carrickmore

All-star.

“They’ve been unlucky a few times against them [Dublin] in Croke Park, especially in the League, so it would be a real feather in Tyrone’s cap and give them huge confidence for the rest of the season if they could pull it off.”

Gormley admires how Dublin keep coming back year after year producing the goods. He said: “They have once in a lifetime players and what they’re producing is amazing.

“To be going for five- in-arow, what I admire most is their hunger.

“When we won All-irelands we found it tough to come back and win the title the next year, but their level of dedication is crazy.

“They have a lot of levelheaded players. I wouldn’t like to be chasing them but I’d love to be playing against them.” Dublin have had to come from behind to snatch draws in their last two League games against Tyrone in Croke Park, but last year they beat Tyrone three times.

A League win in Omagh was followed by a Super 8 victory also at Healy Park and then the All-ireland final in Croke Park.

Whoever wins tonight will boost their chances of making a League final, despite the fact they’ve both lost twice.

Dublin lost on the road to Monaghan and Kerry while

Tyrone were poor in February, taking one point from their first three games.

“It was a poor enough start but I would put that early League form down to a lot of heavy training,” said Gormley.

“I have a feeling they were doing a lot of heavy training but now they have a good base of fitness.

“Dublin won’t want to lose any game at home this year and they can play Tyrone any way they want – they can pick holes through a defensive system or go man-to-man but a lot of people would love to see Tyrone go man-to-man to see where they stand.”