Harte wouldn't have it any other way

All-Ireland SFC: Tyrone footballers are approaching their ninth match of this year's championship but manager Mickey Harte is happy that his team's hectic schedule beats the alternative.

"We'd have liked a minimum of two weeks but that's not possible the way the calendar has panned out so we have to live with that, but as I say I'd never choose the alternative."

The weekend's impressive defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final replay sets up a third match with Armagh in seven weeks. Harte reports a clean bill of health after Saturday's action and will have a full hand from which to name the semi-final line-out for next Sunday. The team will be announced on Thursday night.

"Things are okay," according to Harte. "There were a few bumps and bruises but nothing that's going to keep anyone out of the game."

This means that Enda McGinley, who picked up a knock, and Peter Canavan, who missed out at the weekend because of a stomach upset, will both be available for selection.

There has been a real sense in the last week or so that the big three counties, Tyrone, Armagh and Kerry have been gathering momentum. After an uneven campaign to date, Harte acknowledges that his side is responding well to the rising demands of a crowded schedule.

"Going through any season certain players excel and then on other days different players excel. I suppose the secret is to get as many people to play to form or above it on any given day. I suppose the more you play the more chance there is of that happening. That's one way of looking at things.

"Other people might point out that we could be getting tired, players could be fatigued and feeling that at this stage the season should be over. They're all possibilities and there's no real, definitive answer. I'm happy to still be in the competition and happy that we've played some highly competitive games."

Two years ago, after winning the All-Ireland Harte made a point of specifying his preference for avoiding challenge matches and allowing players take more responsibility for their own training and concentrating on quality rather than quantity in collective sessions.

This season has given further scope for this approach with the emphasis on lighter training and a steady programme of matches.

"We've trained two nights a week this summer and before that just one collective session a week. Modern players look after their own fitness and do individual work. When they're only doing one night they're obviously with their clubs the other night.

"We come together to work on the team ethos and team preparation and how we're going to play the game. I think that's sufficient and it gives players some chance to be with their family and have a life. If you can win doing that, that's good because it's some kind of endorsement for that method.

"But there's no guarantee. Ultimately when you win doing a certain thing people maybe pay some attention but we haven't won anything this year yet.

"We're in the last three now but that doesn't give us any great standing to say that our methodology is superior to anyone else's."

One of the most encouraging signs on Saturday was the revived form of Owen Mulligan, who gave his best championship performance in earning the man-of-the-match award after a season in which he hasn't always been selected to start.

"Quality players are always capable of delivering a quality performance," says his manager. "He certainly falls in that category. I've seen him since he was 16 or 17 and I know what he can do.

"He knows what he can do but people don't always get to express themselves fully for a variety of reasons and there's no simple answer to all of that.

"To score a goal like that doesn't do any player any harm. It was a superb score and if you needed something to boost your confidence that would be one way of doing it."

He is cautious about accepting that the team is now enjoying its best form since winning the All-Ireland but says the signs are positive.

"We haven't delivered any silverware but I do see signs of the team developing in the way they did in 2003, but then the answers were provided in terms of victories and we still need one more victory to get to an All-Ireland."