I’m not saying that Tyrone take an All-Ireland triumph by Armagh hard – but every time it happens the Red Hands undergo a change of management.
In truth, the decision of Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan to step down from their joint roles in charge of their native county is not a shock, even if the timing was unexpected.
Indeed it was something of a surprise that they stayed on last summer, having completed a three-year term in charge. Instead they accepted another three-year spell as Tyrone bosses - but Monday night’s announcement means they only completed the first season of that.
The feeling had been that duo were going to stay on, largely because more than two months had elapsed since Tyrone’s championship involvement had ended on June 22, in the preliminary quarter-finals.
The length of time it took is indicative of how difficult the decision was for all concerned – but it is the right call all round.
Both men have demanding, time-consuming jobs, and Logan suffered a serious health scare during the League, only returning to the Tyrone set-up during the Championship.
The two brought different aspects of desire. Logan spoke of his pain and regret at losing the All-Ireland Final in 1995, while Dooher had the experience of three successes, two of them with him lifting the Sam Maguire Cup as skipper.
Dooher was a classic ‘lead by example’ captain. Yet it was also clear that when he did speak, you’d better listen. The same obviously applied in management.
As his post-match interviews evidenced, Dooher was not a man who accepted or made excuses, nor would he hand out praise lightly.
He was very much of the Roy Keane ‘That’s his job’ school of management.
Dooher was known for making every moment count, including watching back match videos on team bus journeys.
Logan was more the ‘good cop’, a father figure by nature and not just because he was the older man.
Even with the assistance of Collie Holmes and Joe McMahon, among others, the burden on Dooher and Logan seemed an increasingly heavy one, and the pressure did not look like lifting.
Tyrone never came close to the heights of 2021, the duo’s debut campaign when they led the Red Hands to a surprise fourth senior All-Ireland.
The semi-final against Kerry was arguably even more memorable than the final triumph over Mayo. Delayed after Covid struck the Tyrone camp, Tyrone showed remarkable resilience to outlast the Kingdom in extra time.
The grit, guts, and effort exhibited that day was a reflection of the two men in charge.
They’ll always be remembered and lauded for that 2021 success, but the longer they went on without more serious silverware led to an increasing risk that their reputations would become tarnished.
Player retention proved problematic, with the departure of a host of experienced back-up men.
However, their successor may thank Dooher and Logan for blooding so many young players. The duo took hard decisions with the ultimate benefit of Tyrone always their aim.
After 2021 fortune didn’t often favour them. Tyrone would be a very different proposition with Conor McKenna at the forefront of their attack, but he returned to Aussie Rules football after collecting his Celtic cross. Cathal McShane has never re-captured the form of his younger days following serious injury troubles.
Yet there remains plenty of talent to work with, both within this year’s senior squad and coming through, with Tyrone having won the All-Ireland U20 championship this year and in 2022.
The new man will inherit a squad with a combination of proven performance and potential, with the Canavan brothers, Darragh and Ruairi, truly special talents.
Not to put too much pressure on the new man (or men), of course, but Tyrone in 2025 will hope to complete an incredible hat-trick: winning the All-Ireland yet again in the first season under new management.
That’s a long shot, obviously, but the expectation remains within the county that the senior team should be competitive at the top level.
As it stands, though, Tyrone are well down the All-Ireland pecking order.
Holders Armagh, Dublin, Kerry, Galway, Donegal, Derry, and even Mayo will probably all be regarded as more likely winners of Sam in 2025.
Those seven counties also comprise Tyrone’s opponents in Division One next year, so staying up will be the first tough task facing the new boss.
Dooher and Logan maintained the Red Hands’ top flight league status throughout their tenure, but were never in serious contention for Ulster or the All-Ireland after their stellar debut campaign.
The second season proved very difficult, with a home hammering in Ulster by Derry, and then a first round qualifier exit against Armagh.
They did reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2023, but Kerry handed out a beating there.
This year had an air of delaying the inevitable. After edging past Cavan, Tyrone ran out of steam in extra time against Donegal – and then lost more convincingly to them in the group stages.
There were wins over Clare and Cork, but another victory never looked on the cards against Roscommon. Their team went out with a whimper, outplayed at home by the Rossies.
Still, the optimists among the Tyrone support may note several parallels with 2002 heading into 2003.
It was also a management duo that Mickey Harte followed, and one of them - the late Art McRory – had had a health scare too.
Armagh were reigning All-Ireland champions, while Tyrone’s championship had been ended by a Connacht side (Sligo then).
In reality, an All-Ireland next year would be even more shocking than 2021′s was.
For now, Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan leave with the thanks of Tyrone followers.
Their record was a mixed one, with one more defeat than victories in League and Championship matches (25 to 24, with four draws).
They won the one that mattered most, though, that 2021 All-Ireland Final.
The fourth will always be with them.
