Harte blames Sky for the narrowed pitch in Omagh clash
TYRONE narrowed the width of the pitch at Healy Park in Omagh for last night’s Super 8s All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin but Mickey Harte said the decision was down to broadcasters Sky rather than any attempt to restrict the strengths of the All-Ireland champions.
Dublin survived a grandstand Tyrone finish that saw the home side throw off the shackles late on and cut a six-point lead back to just two in injury time before Paul Flynn responded with the last score of the game for the champions.
And Harte downplayed any idea of gamesmanship in terms of the width of the pitch as Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton found himself under pressure in the final 10 minutes in particular when Tyrone pushed up.
‘Narrowing of the pitch is nothing to do with me at all.’
He added: ‘That was actually a request came through from Sky, that they would like more clearance at the side for their technology. The Omagh club asked me would I be okay and I said “work away”.’
‘People are reading too much into it in terms of a conspiracy theory. But it was nothing to do with that. It was a practical matter.’
Yesterday’s results with Donegal beating Roscommon means that a semi-final place will be decided when Tyrone and Donegal meet in Ballybofey
in a fortnight’s time.
Harte said: ‘It’s a very difficult place to go and they have a huge record there – they haven’t been beaten in so many years. I’m glad we have the chance to go. Any other year we’d be waiting on the McKenna Cup.
‘It’s good to be where we are, that we have another chance. We’ll do our best to avail of that. But obviously Donegal will have other ideas too.’