Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC quarter-final: Tyrone v Kerry (today, Portlaoise, 4pm, live on SportTG4 YouTube)
A RIVALRY that endures at all levels will post its latest bulletin as Tyrone and Kerry meet in the All-Ireland final at Portlaoise today.
The Ulster champions, targeting a second successive All-Ireland final appearance, face a Kingdom side coming off a heavy defeat to Cork in their provincial decider.
But a Kerry team on the rebound is a dangerous proposition, and the Red Hands are preparing themselves for a backlash from the Munster runners-up.
Tyrone have come through a character-building Ulster series, emerging victorious from fierce battles with Donegal and Derry to retain their title.
They will feel they’re battle-hardened and well prepared for another pressing test at O’Moore Park.
“It’s going to be a real, real tough one, and our boys are going to have to be ready for a real battle,” said manager Gerard Donnelly.
Team captain Eoin McElholm is the only survivor from the 2021 side that lost the decider to Meath. He has been in sparkling form up front, hitting two goals in the four points defeat of Derry in the Ulster final, and he will be looking to link up effectively with Noah Grimes and Ronan Molloy.
The workrate of Caolan Donnelly, Conor O’Neill and Conan Devlin will provide a vital element of the Tyrone game plan.
A dependable defence, which was superb in the provincial decider at Clones, will look to nullify a Kingdom attack which has talented score-takers in Cormac Dillon and Donagh O’Sullivan.
With Eddie Healy, Jack Clifford and midfielder Darragh O’Sullivan at the heart of their game plan, they will look to rediscover their form, but the absence of suspended centre back Darragh O’Connor, sent off in the early stages of the second half of the Munster final, is a blow.
Donnelly is certain the restoration of Kingdom pride will be a key element of their preparations as they reflect on their failure to perform in the Munster final.
“Kerry are going to fight back, and they’re not going to want that performance to define their season,” he said.
“It was definitely an off-day for Kerry. That 14-point win three weeks ago was the real Kerry.
“I suppose Cork were very up for it to try and avenge that.
“Kerry were maybe caught, young lads with their heads maybe a wee bit complacent and Cork managing to get their house a wee bit more in order.
“Just about everything that could have gone wrong for Kerry went wrong, and Cork were ruthless.
“In the first half Cork had eleven shots and they had ten scores, and the one shot that they missed came off a post and would have been a goal.
“I am under no illusions about what’s coming around the corner.
For how good Cork were, Kerry have some deadly forwards, they have a brilliant back line.
“The sending off had a big impact on them. Kerry were starting to get their tails up a wee bit and the sending off came at a bad time for them, and then Cork got the goals.”
