By Barry O'Donnell
ONLY an upset of seismic proportions can seemingly deprive Tyrone of a 12th Ulster Senior title but such talk is naturally being played down within the squad itself.
In a year when a 100/1 shot took the honours in the Grand National, the Red Hands are out to avoid a similar shock outcome when they lock horns with either Cavan or Antrim in the provincial decider on July 19th.
The bookies will probably view it as the most lop-sided Anglo Celt showdown in history and on the evidence of Tyrone's emphatic eight point demolition of old foes Derry last Sunday the oddsmakers would seem to have very good cause to dismiss the challenge of the Saffrons and Breffni Blues.
They clash in the second Ulster semi this Saturday evening in Clones for what most are stating is the rather dubious honour of clashing with the defending All-Ireland champions in just over three weeks time.
However unlike perennial heavyweights such as Kerry or Dublin, Tyrone don't have a stockpile of provincial senior medals in their midst and half-back Sean O'Neill, who produced an eye-catching cameo performance when introduced in the second half of last weekend's 0-15 to 0-7 stroll past Derry, is keen to win his first.
" Ulster is a big stepping stone, but you'd never overlook it. It's a great feat for Tyrone to win the Ulster title any season, we haven't that many of them. We're looking to win every competitive game and it just so happens the next one is the Ulster Final."
Complacency could be Tyrone's greatest enemy approaching the St Tiernach's Park blockbuster, yet O'Neill argues that the business-like mindset within the camp should guard against a slackening in terms of approach.
" We'll prepare the way we have done the whole way through the Championship for the Ulster Final, from day one. We'll treat every team with respect and take nothing for granted. We'll try and play to our strengths no matter who we face.
" Antrim are coming in off the back of a great win in Donegal and the same applies to Cavan after beating Fermanagh. That match this weekend should be a great battle. So no matter who we play they will be buzzing and their confidence will have rocketed. That will make them really dangerous if we aren't on our game."
O'Neill capped an industrious and enterprising 20 minute appearance by banging over an excellent long range point as Tyrone eased impressively clear of a ragged Oak Leaf outfit. The young Dromore star's efforts highlighted the enviable range of options open to the management on the bench, a factor he acknowledged afterwards.
" Tyrone showed their depth and strength of character at the end and what they can pull out of the bag. We played for the full seventy minutes.
"Any team in Ireland would love to bring the likes of Brian Dooher and Brian McGuigan on. It says it all. That's the thing about Tyrone, every man is on board. The whole 30 men in the squad are pushing for places. Mickey's able to bring boys in as he pleases and he knows they'll do a job."
That vast reservoir of talent was further underlined at Casement when two of Tyrone's supposed lesser lights, Kevin Hughes and Martin Penrose, grabbed the laurels, as some of their more illustrious team-mates toiled somewhat. The pivotal role of that duo came as no real surprise to the St Dympna's man.
" We have a couple of outstanding footballers, the likes of big Sean, Stevie, but every man on his day can step up to the mark. You'd the likes of Marty there who was brilliant, and Hub (Hughes), as was the whole defence. They worked as a complete unit and at the end of the day it's all about the team."
Despite disposing of their two biggest rivals, Armagh and Derry in impressive manner, there's no suggestion that Tyrone believe the hard part of this Ulster trek is behind them.
" No matter what team you're in there's always room for improvement. I don't think there's ever been fifteen men who have done things 100 per cent right so we'll not be getting carried away with ideas about ourselves. The harder you work the luckier you get and we'll continue to put in the graft before the Clones match."
