By Barry O'Donnell

FORMER British Primer Minster Harold MacMillan probably wasn't well versed in the goings on of Tyrone GAA during his tenure but if old 'Supermac' was still around these days he'd be well entitled to utter his most famous phrase- 'We've never had it so good'.

A momentous six days has totally transformed the footballing landscape and confirmed Tyrone as the true Kings of Ireland, whatever they may argue down by the Lakes of Killarney.

The county's minors helped seal a second All-Ireland title within a week when they edged out Mayo in a pulsating extra-time replay at Longford on Saturday afternoon 1-20 to 1-15. Coming hard on the heels of the seniors victory, it means that the 'Sam and Tom' double act will become the most popular attraction up and down Tyrone over the next twelve months.

In the process the Red Hands have bridged a 28-year gap as not since Kerry managed the achievement in 1980 have the Sam Maguire and Tom Markham trophies been clinched by the same county. It's also a first for Ulster, another incredible statistic when you consider some of the great Cavan and Down teams of the past.

Tyrone's stature has now reached unprecedented heights across the country and the 'twin-triumphs' this past month means that the county has accrued nine All-Irelands (three senior, two U21 and four minor) since 1998.

It's all a far cry from some of the prolonged barren spells that litter the county's past ( as recently as 1990-93 the seniors didn't win a solitary championship game nevermind championship trophy) and the signs are encouraging that the glory years will continue for another while yet.

Certainly the portents look promising based on the potential of the brilliant batch of under-18s who wrapped up their own treble (Ulster League, Ulster Championship and All-Ireland Championship) with that memorable win in Pearse Park on Saturday.

A dogged and physically strong Mayo team tested the mettle, courage and character of Raymond Munroe's young charges over eighty spellbinding minutes, with momentum shifting one way then another, but Tyrone emerged with the spoils.

Keeper Tim Harney was denied a clean sheet right a the death in extra-time when Mayo managed a consolation goal but again the young Glenelly man produced a composed and commanding showing between the posts.

It also shouldn't be forgotten amid the euphoria of this victory, and the contribution of stars such as sharpshooter Kyle Coney, that it was Harney's three stunning saves in the first half at Healy Park back in June which probably prevented Tyrone slipping to a near certain Ulster first round defeat at the hands of Down.

Saturday represented a magnificent end to a wonderful voyage for himself and all his team-mates.

" It's just brilliant. We knew ourselves after the first game at Croke Park it was going to take something special to get past Mayo and that was the case. We knew that they would keep coming at us so we had to be prepared for anything. Maybe we had a bit of the rub of the green but whatever it was we got there in the end."

Fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout engrossing encounter, the sides sopping leads on a regular basis. Every time that one looked to be establishing a vice-like grip on the contest, the other would come roaring back at them. Ultimately it wasn't until Conor O'Neill swooped for the first goal in the first period of extra-time, that the northerners opened up significant daylight. Harney admits that it was as much a mental test of endurance as a physical one.

" Neither team could get any breathing space or afford to relax but that is something you have to learn to deal with it. We couldn't turn off at any stage and had to be on our toes because they put us under fierce pressure at times."

Having suffered disappointment when bowing out of the All-Ireland race at the quarter-final stage last term at the hands of Kerry, Harney said the team was doubly determined to go all the way this year.

" It's every young man's dream to win an All-Ireland so to achieve it is unreal. This was my last year to get a shot at it with the minors. It's the goal we set ourselves at the start of the year so it's brilliant to pull it off.

" We had a glimpse of what it would be like to win an All-Ireland when we saw the reaction the seniors got last week. What they s did acted a real spur for us so there was a great desire coming down to Longford to complete the job ourselves."

Tim started student life last week when he took up his studies at the University of Jordanstown and this particular 'Fresher' will have a spring in his step this week as he returns to Belfast as an All-Ireland champion.

He also believes that several members of this gifted squad are capable of representing Tyrone at the highest level in years to come.