We got into fifth Gear & kept rolling
A TEAM driven to the brink of despair was rebuilt and reinvigorated by a group of brilliant alchemists.
Tyrone’s new regime stood close to a precipice following a six-goal humiliation in the NFL Division One semi-final, but that meltdown in Kerry proved to be a turning point.
Five men with strong opinions and astute football minds put the pieces back together and in doing so they created the platform for All-ireland glory.
Kieran Mcgeary is a shoo-in for an All-star, a strong contender for the Footballer of the Year award.
More importantly, he is an All-ireland winner thanks to the work of Brian Dooher, Feargal Logan, Collie Holmes, Joe Mcmahon and Peter Donnelly.
Mcgeary (inset) said: “We have had bad days at training, we have had bad days in challenge games, and we faced that all the time.
“But our coaches have been exceptional. They continued to break it down, push boys’ strengths, push boys’ weaknesses, and the job they have done is unbelievable.”
All five members of the management team experienced All-ireland finals as players.
Logan played at midfield on the team that lost the 1995 decider to Dublin while Dooher captained two winning sides in the noughties, a glorious period that also saw Mcmahon, Holmes and Donnelly climb the steps of the Hogan as winners.
“What the forefathers did in ’03, ’05, ’08 really set the standard,” added Mcgeary.
“We have the men who have done it, and when you watch those boys do it, you only have to speak to them for one or two minutes to know the path they’re pushing you on.
“We have been pushing. It’s not to say that we have never been there.
“We have been pushing under Mickey Harte, we will continue now hopefully to push under Feargal and Brian.
“It’s extremely hard to stop a bus that’s all going the one way.
“We knew every single player and backroom team member were all pushing on the same journey and looking to get to the same pinnacle. It’s a hard one to stop.”