By Barry O'Donnell
AUSSIE bound teenage Tyrone sensation Kyle Coney is refusing to be side-tracked by the whole furore over his move 'Down Under' as he sets his sights solely on the upcoming All-Ireland Minor Championship Final.
The 18-year old Ardboe scoring ace takes up a contract with Australian Rules outfit Sydney Swans shortly after the Croke Park showdown with Mayo, a decision which has reopened a war of words between some high-profile GAA figures (including Red Hands seniors boss Mickey Harte) and AFL recruitment coaches.
However the supremely gifted Coney, who stole the show in the second half of the minors semi-final triumph over Meath pitching in with seven brilliant points, insists he pays little attention to the ongoing dispute over his 'switch' to the professional oval ball game.
And he argues that his team-mates in the Tyrone Under-18, as well as hard taskmaster Raymond Munroe, wouldn't allow him time to indulge in a bit of daydreaming about sunny days on Bondi Beach.
" There's no superstars in our camp and I couldn't be happier playing with a better bunch of fellas. It's all about the thirty players and the management sticking together as a team. Everyone has concentrated on their own performances but when it comes to the matches it's all about working together as a team.
" No-one can afford to get complacent or take their place for granted. There's lads sitting on the bench desperate to get their chance to show what they can do. But you need someone there to put pressure on you for your place. That can only help spur you on."
While content with his agreement to join the pro ranks in Oz, whatever the controversy, Kyle stresses that he has barely given the decision any thought over the last two months as he devoted his attentions on GAA success.
" A lot of focus has been on my move to Australia but it's been other people's focus rather than my own. I made the decision a few months ago which I am happy with, but it's been placed at the back of my mind since.
" If my head wasn't right it wouldn't have been fair on the rest of the players. I haven't missed training this year because I've been totally devoted to this team. If my mind was on anything else I'd say the other players or managers would have had a word in my ear. You can't have room for any egos."
The former Holy Trinity Cookstown student, whose school playing career was guided by the legendary Peter Canavan, acknowledges that it is unusual to be approaching an All-Ireland Final with so much attention in the county drawn to the next match on the Croke Park double bill. He feels though that this can only benefit the players.
"Most people in Tyrone are looking forward to the seniors playing which is perfectly understandable. That allows us to fly below the radar if you will which is perfect for us. We are able to focus on our own match without any real distractions. We wish Tyrone seniors the best of luck obviously but we are really only interested in taking care on our own business beforehand. We have plenty of incentive of our own to succeed."
Tyrone have built up an impressive head of steam as this Championship summer has unfolded and after battling and scraping their way through Ulster, have really thrown off the shackles in their latest outings to stylishly account for both Roscommon and Meath. Kyle is naturally satisfied with this upward graph in terms of performance levels.
" All the Ulster matches were real dogfights and we have come on leaps and bounds since the first round against Down. I suppose that is what you want, to improve steadily as the competition goes on, rather than starting with a bang but then tailing away.
" We struggled at times but then showed our real potential in the last twenty minutes against Roscommon down in Longford. We also showed in patches against Meath that we can deliver and if we produce our top form then we have it in us to beat Mayo in the final. But it's going to be tough."
Coney was a member of the county minor squad which failed to build on their provincial success in 2007 and bowed out of the All-Ireland race disappointingly at the quarter-finals stages against Kerry. He believes that setback has helped spur them onto glory in 2008.
" It was in the back of my mind that we missed out on Croke Park and we drummed it into the heads of the new lads in the panel. We definitely didn't want to go through that again. We wanted to experience a big day out at Croke Park and to perform well was doubly satisfying. But we have to do it again and probably play even better if we are to get our hands on the All-Ireland."
Traditionally the lunchtime start for the Minor Final ensures that Headquarters is usually less than a quarter full at throw-in time, but with huge Tyrone support in Dublin for the Sam Maguire showdown, the minors are hopeful of getting sizeable backing in their quest to land the Thomas Markham Cup.
" There wasn't a big crowd supporting us in various matches this season with no senior involvement but that won't be the case next Sunday. A big crowd in the ground should definitely help to drive us on. It's a big advantage that we have over Mayo but only if we perform up to scratch.
" From what I saw of Mayo on TV they looked a big, physically strong team and they probably should have beaten Kerry in the first game before getting past them handy enough in the replay.
" They have some really sharp forwards and their defence has been very tight all season. We'll be looking to exploit any weaknesses they have. We've had a great year but it would be brilliant to cap it off with an All-Ireland minor title."
