Harte’s memory is short when it comes to tricks

EVERYBODY knows, for certain, that there will be all sorts of ‘dirty tricks’ employed by certain members of the Tyrone and Armagh teams in this afternoon’s All-Ireland quarter-final that is also expected to be an outstanding game. Indeed, this is the game neutrals hope, after last weekend’s frail nonsense, will remind us there is something worth winning this season. Last weekend was like nobody cared much about Sam Maguire waiting down the road. Mickey Harte (below) has already asked for help from the match officials in ensuring that nobody gets away with any sneaky physical stuff on this occasion. Presumably, he is talking about Armagh? And clearly, it seems, he has forgotten the few dodgy party tricks that some of his own defenders employed during the winning of three All-Ireland titles not so long ago? The two McMahons, for starters, were angels with dirty faces as they sought to bring Kerry’s ‘Twin Towers’ duo of Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh to their knees. Harte knows that despite bringing more success Tyrone’s way than anyone had ever imagined at the turn of the millennium, he is running out of time and patience with his own people. If he does not win a fourth All-Ireland title by the 10th anniversary of their last victory in 2008 then he’s done for — he’s out of a job he has never stopped loving for one singe day. It’s unlikely that Armagh will stop Tyrone this afternoon. Kieran McGeeney has squeezed more from this Armagh team this summer than ever seemed likely. There’s nothing more in them after mounting a big finish against Kildare last weekend. Tyrone should have six points to spare, though Armagh will bring it all onto the field, including a little box of dirty tricks — a box about the same size of Tyrone’s I’d guess, wouldn’t you?