Kingdom to come again as Tyrone struggle with loss of major stars
 There’s
a consensus in Gaelic Football that to win an All-Ireland you have to
beat Kerry. In 2006 the view could be even more valid as the Kingdom prepare
for another campaign with the tag of favourites.
Having won the National League Championship manager Jack O’Connor
must be confident that his side is in the right frame of mind to lift
Sam this year.
His star man Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper is firing on all cylinders,
Darragh Ó Sé has an able partner in midfield in the guise
of Kieran Donaghy and players such as Paul Galvin and Bryan Sheehan are
also excelling in the green and gold.
Jack O’Connor spoke recently of last year’s disappointment
in losing the All-Ireland to Tyrone but believes his side is in great
shape.
He said: “Obviously there were wounds to be healed after that defeat
by Tyrone.
“But I think we have emerged pretty unscathed from it because to
go on the following season and win the National League is pretty good
going for a team that had just lost an All-Ireland.
“So I think the hangover is well and truly gone. We are now looking
forward to getting on the All-Ireland trail and having a good run at it.”
The defending champions Tyrone are struggling to come to terms with the
loss of star centre forward Brian McGuigan who broke his leg in a club
game.
Manager Mickey Harte said: “It’s just impossible to put into
words the effect of losing a player of Brian’s stature and class
can have on our team this year. Anyone who watches this game will appreciate
that losing Brian at this stage is a serious, serious blow to our team.
“He has been the key to all that is good about our attacking ability.
Now we are going to have to live in a different way this summer. When
you put Brian’s injury alongside the retirement of Peter Canavan
it means that two of the best forwards in the country are out of our forward
line before we even kick a ball.”
Tyrone still have a wonderful squad of attacking players but such a loss
coupled with the pressure of retaining the Championship may mean even
Mickey Harte won’t have all the answers in 2006.
In the West an intriguing battle lies ahead between the two Connacht heavyweights
Galway and Mayo.
The Tribesmen had enough in the tank to see off Mayo in the National League
semi-final but we witnessed clear evidence in this year’s League
campaign to suggest Mayo under Mickey Moran are a vastly improved side.
The loss of Richie Fahey with a cruciate ligament injury will come as
a major blow to Peter Ford’s Galway side as they aim to retain the
Connacht Championship. Predictably all the talk in Mayo centers on the
return of Ciaran McDonald.
Any comprehensive challenge for silverware by Mayo would need the blonde
bombshell from Crossmolina on board while London manager Noel Dunning
would rather he stayed outside the inter-county fold at least until after
the London v Mayo game on May 28.
There’s a renewed buzz in the capital after Dublin’s strong
run in last year’s Championship.
Paul Caffrey has introduced a greater steel and sense of belief into the
current Dublin side but as they showed in this year’s League campaign
they can blow hot and cold all too often.
That said if they can overcome the challenges of Laois and Kildare in
particular they should hold onto Leinster and could challenge for honours
in 2006.
It’s sure to be another pulsating summer of Gaelic football action
and though Kerry look like worthy favourites to lift Sam for the 34th
time they’ll be many twists and turns along the road to Croker for
the final on September 17.
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