Not even Peter Canavan…
Not even Mickey Harte…
Yet only Errigal Ciaran…
The physical challenges posed by their Kerry opponents will be tough enough but getting their mental approach right may be more than half the battle for the Tyrone and Ulster champions.
They haven’t done it before – but they can do it.
Errigal Ciaran don’t lack self-belief, nor should they.
Others in Tyrone may accuse them of arrogance, but they have plenty to be proud of, both as a club within the O’Neill county and Ulster and also in terms of what their players and club members have achieved on the inter-county scene.
Yet not even Tyrone’s greatest ever player, Peter Canavan, could take them into an All-Ireland Club senior football final, despite two goes at doing so.
Not even Tyrone’s greatest ever manager, Mickey Harte, could do that either, when in charge for the 2002/3 campaign.
That dynamic duo did combine for a breakthrough All-Ireland inter-county triumph in 2003, though, and the present Errigal Ciaran team and management must believe that they can take a step closer to doing that too.
Eighteen counties have been represented in All-Ireland Club SFC Finals so far, including five from Ulster.
The fact that Tyrone, the most successful Ulster county over the timespan of the All-Ireland club championship, is not among those is a stark anomaly.
Only Errigal Ciaran have had the opportunity, of course, as the only Tyrone club to win the Ulster Club – in 1993, 2002, and then late last year.
It’s Errigal’s misfortune that they are once again up against a club that seems to revel in the All-Ireland arena.
Back in 1994 and 2003 their semi-finals were against Nemo Rangers. Now they’re up against the Cork club’s successor as the dominant force in Munster club football.
Dr Crokes may have suffered heartbreak at this stage too but at least they have All-Ireland successes, in 1992 and 2017, as well as reaching the finals of 2007 and 2019.
Not even an All-Ireland final for Errigal… Not yet.
Enda McGinley won’t consider himself a better boss than Harte if he leads his team into the Croke Park decider, but he will still have made history.
The former Errigal and Tyrone midfielder must surely be emphasising that aspect to the current crop, the change to go one step further than even the famous names of the past – their fathers, for some, notably Peter the Great’s sons Darragh and Ruairi.
Being pitted against the Munster champions again always made it likely that the venue would bring back old memories. Bitter ones.
The original setting of Portlaoise was where Errigal let themselves down in 2003.
The move to Newbridge means a return to the scene of the devastating defeat in 1994, losing in extra time which was forced by a couple of controversial frees from the opposition.
On both occasions the extraordinary Colin Corkery was a decisive factor for the victors, scoring 1-7 in 1994 and 0-5 nine years later.
Dr Crokes don’t have anyone of the stature of that iconic full-forward, but they still have quality in attack, particularly with Micheal Burns and Tony Brosnan, while the experienced Kieran O’Leary tends to pose a threat off the bench.
Gavin White has also been influential in breaking out from the back. Restricting him will be important. Pitting Peter Harte against him would be an interesting approach, but more likely that will be part of a collective effort to reduce supply to the Croke’s inside-forwards.
The teams appear closely matched.
Those few inches between the ears may matter most.
Errigal’s ability to edge tight tussles in this campaign has been remarkable. The only game in which they eased to victory was their Ulster quarter-final against Cargin. They won their three other matches by a cumulative four points. Even in Tyrone their biggest winning margin was just three points.
Does that record mean the Ballygawley men have been riding their luck?
Or that they know what’s required to come through close encounters?
Their last two victories have come against 14 men, with first Clann Eireann then Kilcoo having key players sent off, Tiernan Kelly and Daryl Branagan respectively.
In contrast, Errigal’s discipline has been commendable, particularly that of the Canavan brothers, captain Darragh and Ruairi, given the close attention they constantly receive.
Even if they are contained, they tend to create chances for colleagues, and their speed of thought, movement, and hand-passing could carve out openings for goals, which may be decisive.
Peter Og McCartan was the unexpected hero of the Ulster triumph against Kilcoo and Errigal may again need others to step into the limelight and onto the scoreboard.
The Canavans are the star names, of course, but they have many other Tyrone representives past and present alongside them, including Harte, Ben McDonnell, Joe Oguz, Cormac Quinn, Niall Kelly, and Aidan McCrory.
Dr Crokes know they can do it - but Errigal have the composure and depth of quality to edge through to their first national final.
