WEA Supplement - Flipbook - Page 9
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ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL
managers had big
Kerr: Dooher and Logan have stamped ‘The
boots to fill when they
Mickey Harte,
their character on the Red Hand panel replaced
and so far they have done
IN ASSOCIATION
WITH
“It’s in the non-participating
counties where there is a
significant reduction in the
allocation of tickets.
“We’ll still not have the number
of tickets that we have had a
number of years ago for AllIreland finals, but hopefully those
that merit a ticket will receive a
ticket.
“We are doing our best to ensure
through the clubs that that is the
case.”
Tyrone’s All-Ireland dream may
well have ended four weeks ago,
when a Covid outbreak in the
camp threatened to force them
out of the series.
Kerr insisted that the county
would have accepted its fate had
Croke Park insisted on the semifinal against Kerry being played
prior to August 28
“All our decisions were
predicated on what was the
best for Tyrone GAA and for our
players.
“If we hadn’t been afforded the
opportunity by Kerry and by the
CCCC in Croke Park, we would
have accepted the decision, and
that would have been the end
of it.
“But now that we’re there, we’re
very grateful.
“It’s a great place to be, and
there’s 30 other counties looking
in, envious of Tyrone and Mayo.”
Once handed that opportunity,
the Red Hands seized it with
all the vigour and energy they
could muster, squeezing past the
Kingdom in an extra-time thriller.
“We made the most of the
opportunity we were given in the
semi-final, and it’s all credit to the
players and management in the
way that they stuck to their task
in the limited period of time that
they had to recover.
“On the day, they produced what
was brilliant performance to beat
a great Kerry team.
“There was only the bounce of a
ball in it at the end, and the goals
won the match for it.
“From one to fifteen, the players
were positive in bringing the
game to Kerry, and that was
reflected in the fact that our
goalkeeper and our entire
full-back line all tagged on points
during the game.
“It’s a different type of game than
it was 20 or 25 years ago, but it’s
still built on determination, talent
and heart.
“It was the workrate that
everybody was amazed by,
but that just epitomised the
management team that we have,
and we didn’t expect anything
different.”
M
UCH of the punditry and
analysis that followed that
game focused on Kerry’s
failings rather than Tyrone’s
achievement, but that hasn’t
taken the shine off a magical day
for the Ulster champions.
“The pundits can put whatever
slant on it they want to write or
speak about,” said the chairman.
“Tyrone went with a gameplan to
try and overcome Kerry. Tyrone’s
gameplan succeeded on the day.
“Kerry’s strengths are in
particular areas, Tyrone’s
strengths are in other areas, but
our strengths prevailed on the
day.
“On another day it might have
been a different result, but we got
the bounce of the ball, the rub
of the green to go on to the final
after a very sporting game.”
Carrickmore clubman Kerr said
it’s important to reflect on the
genesis of Tyrone’s success on
the big stage.
It all started with the clubs,
where children were introduced
to the game, given a grounding
in the skills, and coached
through all levels with constant
encouragement that they could
make it to the very top.
“These boys that will be on the
field for us at Croke Park on
Saturday would not be there
but for the coaching at underage within the clubs that have
brought them through the gates
of their respective clubs as
youngsters.
“Our clubs deserve huge credit
for the manner in which they
have promoted Gaelic Games,
with countless officials and
coaches, and others performing
a variety of roles, helping young
players in all codes to become
the best that they can possibly
be.
“Subsequently we have been
able to scour the county for the
best talent to bring together in
the formation and development
of a brilliant squad of players,
representing all of our clubs and
all of our communities.
“We have reaped the rewards
in Tyrone, particularly in football,
and we have a team to be proud
of and that we are certain will
do us proud on All-Ireland
final day.”
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10 2021
www.irishnews.com
that with assurance, often
in the most difficult of
circumstances’
Michael Kerr (left)