OMAGH CBS captain Callum Daly has once again been a lynchpin and driving force this season and he hopes to make history on Saturday and become the first Tyrone player to lead a side to back-to-back Hogan Cup titles.
Daly is one of six current players who started last year’s final against Naas CBS and, once again, he will be at centre half-back when Mercy Mounthawk are the opponents.
Daly believes the experience of 12 months ago can help them and he states there is no added pressure on them as holders.
“It is probably a big thing [experience], especially with the game in Croke Park again as it can be daunting for lads who haven’t played there,” he said.
“The boys who have been there and done it last year need to help bring the other lads on and help them to settle into the game. I wouldn’t say that it is added pressure, more added enjoyment and everybody can’t wait to play there.
“It is a big incentive to get to the Hogan Cup final given the fact that it is played in Croke Park. Some players never get the chance to play there and this will be my second time, so it’s a great honour and I think that everybody is looking forward to it.
“There is no added pressure within this group of players as it is a different group from last year. Some of the players may be going for two in a row, but some are also going for their first, so I think the pressure will be from the external public more than anything. We have come this far and we just hope to get the job done.”
After a cagey start in the semi-final, they comfortably saw off the challenge of St Gerald’s, Castlebar and Daly feels the team came of age, especially after losing their talisman up front, Ruairí McCullagh, to injury.
“I think things really came together in the semi-final and the defence especially,” he added.
“We were very disciplined throughout the field and I think that everybody stood up especially when Rooster [McCullagh] had to go off injured. That was important and we certainly had leaders all over the pitch.
“Ruairí has been the main man and the focal point of all our attacks and, when he went off, it could have rattled the team a bit, but it didn’t. We all stuck to the plan Liam Óg (Mossey) took over the free-kicking duties and dropped deeper, while Paudie Dillon was superb as well.”
Standing in their way of history are the first-time finalists from Tralee and Daly is well aware of the challenge facing them.
“It is probably being built up more as it’s a game between teams from Tyrone and Kerry,” he said.
“We have seen some of their players at minor level and they are very good and there is a lot of talk about them, but we will have our analysis done on them and detail their players.
“You know that they are a strong outfit as they wouldn’t be in a Hogan final if they weren’t, so we will just have to be prepared for them.”