By Mickey Ferry

THE ATMOSPHERE was building in Gortin yesterday, as the pupils of St Patrick's Primary school counted down the days to the big match in Croke Park on Sunday.

But their story is no ordinary one. The star pupil is actually their teacher and none other than Tyrone forward Stephen O Neill.

While Stephen may not have been teaching at St Patrick's when he achieved All-Ireland glory with Tyrone in 2003 and 2005, there is no doubt among the school's primary five and six pupils that 'Mr O'Neill' will make it a hat-trick of winners medals on Sunday.

So the Chronicle set off to Gortin this week t find out what the pupils really thought of 'Mr O Neill.'

Unsurprisingly, the primary six pupils are confident of a comprehensive Tyrone victory, with no guesses who the star of the show will be.

"Tyrone will win easy and Mr O'Neill will score a lovely goal in the top corner," said Ruairi O'Neill.

Derval McDonald not only believes that Tyrone will do the job, but if she has her way there will be very little of the Kerry team left come full-time. "Tyrone will win easy. In fact I think they will do to Kerry exactly what they did to the 'Dubs'," she confidently predicted. This 'no mercy' approach was also endorsed by young Sean Og McAleer. "Tyrone is going to give Kerry a good hammering. 'Gooch' Cooper won't know where to look," he said.

While all the pupils were united in the view that it'll be a win for Tyrone, there were one or two criticisms of the recent facial trends among a handful of the Tyrone squad. "Tyrone are the best team for sure, but I'm not too sure about those beards at all," said Tegan McDermott.

Fashion faux pas or not, there is set to be a mass of 'bearded' men and women from Tyrone occupying the stands of Croke Park on Sunday. Yet young Tegan may see two of her wishes come true on Sunday, as a much needed shave by the 'beardy boys' in the Tyrone side will be yet another confirmation that All-Ireland glory has been achieved.

After that, the celebrations can begin and when Stephen O'Neill returns to St Patrick's next week, the pupils of the school will be hoping that he will be bringing along yet another All-Ireland winners medal for them all to see.

Unlike his willing pupils expression of views, Mr O Neill said little but we feel he's quietly confident.