Tyrone can make the giant leap

Beside a roundabout on the outskirts of Newry stand two apparently contradictory signs: "Up Armagh" and "Dismantle the War Machine!"

Allowing that the military metaphors have been overdone in describing the champions' progress to tomorrow's Bank of Ireland All-Ireland football final, challengers Tyrone still have a formidable task to dismantle their neighbours' ambitions of a second title.

All the more formidable if Tyrone's injury problems don't clear up. Yesterday's rumour about Brian Dooher's fitness is the latest alarm. Dooher hurt his shoulder in a club match after the semi-final win over Kerry. Although in some discomfort, he has made a good recovery and wasn't causing concern to insiders earlier this week.

Ciarán Gourley is the most tangible doubt but his position is well covered with Colin Holmes tipped to step in if necessary.

But these are overshadowed by the bulletins on captain Peter Canavan. The consensus is he will start, although there are reservations about his match fitness. It has also been suggested he might be better deployed coming off the bench rather than risking replacement. In fact there's an argument that he is more important to Tyrone's chances of getting the type of strong start that buckled Kerry in the first quarter and if he can be strapped, injected or otherwise rehabilitated to take part in an early onslaught that might be the best way of using him.

With Armagh, the physical challenge frames everything. The strength of the players and the force with which they hit in the tackle, the claustrophobic embrace of their defensive game plan makes them particularly difficult to penetrate. Early trends in the contests involving Owen Mulligan and Brian McGuigan will be anxiously studied by the Tyrone bench.

Then there's the question of to what extent are Armagh better than last year, although their confidence is supreme. Kieran McGeeney may have struggled with injuries and Ronan Clarke may not be as comfortable on the wing but Tony McEntee's role as an auxiliary defender has worked well whereas on the bench, Paddy McKeever is a good option for the wing.

But the physical presence can obscure the potential in attack, which has in John McEntee and centrefielder Paul McGrane a facility for long-range points as well as a good eye for the inside forwards. The ability of Diarmuid Marsden and, in particular, Steven McDonnell has been obvious this year. McDonnell has the footballer of the year gong within his grasp and since that astonishing miss against Monaghan over four months ago he has become the sharpest of cutting edges - the goal against Donegal only the most recent example.

Beyond these very tangible strengths Armagh have developed an even more valuable trait: the reputation for being hard to beat. Former Tyrone manager Art McRory remarked during the week that Armagh commanded more respect outside of Ulster, whereas Tyrone were seen as ultimately a soft touch.

This summer has substantiated that view of the champions. Armagh have been presented as almost unbeatable, their game described variously as "remorseless", "grinding" and "inexorable". It means going into the endgame with a match finely balanced, opponents feel vulnerable and the champions have an important edge. Except that in this case Tyrone are impervious to such perceptions. It's one of the ironies of the all-Ulster final that the reputation of football in the province can't really be of any psychological advantage to either team, as neither is remotely in awe of the other.

If anything the mood within the Ulster champions' boundaries is a bit too upbeat for manager Mickey Harte's comfort. Apparently some bookies have been overrun by punters anxious for some of the "five points or more" action. That type of brazen confidence hasn't helped Tyrone in the past with the All-Ireland semi-finals of 1989 and '96 being fumbled against a backdrop of hot favouritism. But this season the county has dealt with the pressure of expectation and are unlikely to be derailed by complacency.

There has been much to admire in Armagh's season. It's 13 years since a county previously took an All-Ireland defence to the final but the championship these days is unrecognisable since the introduction of the qualifiers. So instead of defeating Limerick, Kerry and Roscommon to reach the final, as Cork did in 1990, Armagh have had to come through defeat by Monaghan followed by wins over Waterford, Antrim, Dublin, Limerick, Laois and Donegal. After that draining itinerary it's legitimate to wonder how much the champions have left in the tank.

Two seasons of hard-fought championship fixtures have to take a toll and the fact only one match remains isn't a guarantee fatigue won't play its part.

Tyrone have impressed with the rapacity of their play. Kerry admit they weren't prepared for that intensity. Armagh won't be caught that way but there's more to Tyrone's game than intensity. When the semi-final was still a contest the pace and verve of their football was breathtaking. That ability to transfer the ball quickly and slickly until a player gallops into space repeatedly caught Kerry. Armagh will crowd the middle and try to block all exits but pace can undo them.

At the back, the improvised full-back line has been strengthened by Cormac McAnallen's ability in the air and his calm judgment. Any lack of speed will be compensated by his corners as well as the swarm defence.

Referee Brian White has been factored into projections more than is desirable but Joe Kernan can't be too happy with the publicity focused on fouls committed by Armagh in the semi-final. It would be strange if White didn't feel under pressure to keep a tight rein on things - an approach more likely to benefit Tyrone.

This comes down to one equation. Tyrone look better equipped to deal with Armagh's strengths than vice versa and can become the 19th county to win the All-Ireland football title.