Intensity and hunger really something

John O'Mahony Football analystThis was a big day for Tyrone football. What we saw yesterday was the flawless execution of a system based on defensive crowding and counter attacking. But what caught the eye was the physical application. Never before have I seen such a sustained level of legitimate aggression as Tyrone gave here.

They were ferocious. That stunning intensity and the dream start were crucial in their win. It was important they led from the outset. If a situation arose where they trailed by three of four points, players like Brian Dooher and Ger Cavlan would have been forced to play in a more attacking role.

Cavlan, in fact, stood alone on the field in the first half, winning countless high balls and popping up everywhere. The sheer selflessness and hunger of Tyrone in the first 20 minutes was incredible to behold. There was one sequence of play when Darragh Ó Sé seemed to be harried by half the Tyrone team and eventually he was forced to just boot it through a crowd. And that was one of his first touches.

Tyrone had identified the key channels and personalities that brought Kerry All-Ireland titles and not only closed them down but blew them out of the water. Every time Séamus Moynihan came on to the ball, he was nailed, often legitimately. There would be none of his sauntering runs, no building from deep. Similarly, they smothered Darragh Ó Sé with remorseless venom. They went right for the superstructure of this Kerry team. And at the other end, it paid dividends.

After seven minutes both Tomás Ó Sé and Eamon Fitzmaurice got badly taken by the Tyrone forwards. Right then, it was evident Kerry were going to have problems and suffered badly as the Tyrone forwards began to profit from the one-on-one confrontations they created. At the other end, only Gooch Cooper kept showing up for the ball and under pressure, he had a difficult shooting day.

It was telling that Tyrone hardly blinked when Peter Canavan had to depart. Stephen O'Neill, a superb player in his own right, came in and did terrifically well. This win means the theory that Tyrone cannot win without Peter is now officially dead. It is good news for the county and for Peter. Still a great player, he will hopefully return for the All-Ireland final without the burden of 1995.

You have to assume Kerry are on a slight downward curve now. Easy to say after yesterday but the belief was that while they were not playing well, a big performance lay within them. That was not the case.

And for all that, they had chances. They missed a few critical opportunities before half-time and had they gone in just three or four down, it may have given Tyrone cause for concern.

Because for all the Ulster champions' possession, 13 points is a disappointing return, and a sizeable percentage of that came from frees. The drawback of their total adherence to the system meant they didn't express themselves as openly as they might in terms of scores. And they created two half chances for goals but nothing searing or that clear-cut. It is something they will have to work on.

So the prospect of an all-Ulster All-Ireland final has come to fruition. It will certainly further highlight the success of this system that brought Armagh success last year.

There is a trend in Gaelic Games for the blueprint of whichever team wins the All-Ireland to become the fashion the following year. In 1992, Donegal's short passing game caught on. Then in 1998, we won in Galway with the long, direct game and that was all the rage. Meath drew success with the two-man full forward line. Tyrone would have watched Armagh's success with the ultra defence and counter attack. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery and Tyrone may now be the prime exponents of Armagh's system.

Given Donegal also base their game around the same principle, we are in for an intriguing and potentially very cagey All-Ireland final, no matter who comes through next week.

I don't think the system is that attractive. Here we had 30 good players yet only 19 points, half of those from frees, and a game riddled with fouls. That won't worry Tyrone if they go on and win the All-Ireland, nor should it. And I do think they will be very hard to stop now.

More than any county, they are breaking down the traditional differences between backs and forwards and producing players that are comfortable at multi-tasking. On that note, Cormac McAnallen was again superb at full back, dealing with everything he had to.

All football fans will be hoping Canavan recovers in time for the All-Ireland. It would be tough justice if Tyrone go on to win their first title with their leader forced to watch from the wings.