HARTE: SKY PITCHED THE IDEA & I SAID FINE

TYRONE boss Mickey Harte said broadcasters Sky were to blame for narrowing the pitch in Omagh for last night’s visit of the Dubs.

Eyebrows were raised as Healy Park was as skinny as it has ever been. But Harte (left) claimed he wasn’t playing mind games with the Dubs and insisted the revamp wasn’t down to him.

He said: “Narrowing of the pitch is nothing to do with me at all.

“That was actually a request came through from Sky, that they would like more clearance at the side for their technology.

“The Omagh (St Enda’s) club asked me would I be okay with it and I said work away.”

Tyrone pushed the All-ireland champions harder than they’ve been pushed all year.

They stayed in the game right to the finish – unlike last year’s 12-point hammering in the semifinal and were helped by Dublin ‘keeper Stephen Cluxton (left) hitting four kickouts straight over the sideline in the second half.

So did the narrow pitch unsettle the Dubs?

“No, I don’t think so,” said boss Jim Gavin.

“It probably brought the forwards a bit closer to the goal.”