Darren McCurry believes Tyrone are coming to the boil at just the right time as the All-Ireland series gets serious.
The Red Hands face defending champions Kerry in this weekend’s quarter-final at Croke Park with a renewed sense of purpose following a confidence-boosting win over Donegal.
After an 18-month search for form, they produced their best performance since the 2021 All-Ireland final, when they lifted Sam for the fourth time.
This weekend’s eliminator brings Tyrone back to GAA Headquarters for the first time since that triumph almost two years ago, and McCurry can’t wait to get there.
“I think we’re just peaking at the right time,” he said.
“We have done a lot of hard work over the last number of weeks. We have shown parts of how we can be.
“It’s every man’s ambition in this team to get back to Croke Park, to get back to playing big games.
“That was the aim at the start of the year, to get back to Croke Park, and we have accomplished that.
“We have obviously a very tough draw, and we have a lot to work on, but a lot to look forward to.”
Tyrone were always in control at Ballybofey as they put their Ulster rivals to the sword, bringing an end to a troubled season for Donegal.
“I thought we managed that game very well. In recent games, in the second half we have tended to dip off a bit,” said McCurry.
“But this time I thought we looked in control that whole game.”
Having built up a five points interval lead after playing with the wind, it was important to deny Donegal the opportunity to gather momentum early in the second half, and it was the Red Hands who hit the first two points after the restart to tighten their grip on the contest.
“It was definitely important not to give them momentum in the first couple of minutes of the second half.
“We talked about that at half-time, and we executed it in the second half.
“I thought we controlled that game really well in the second half to see the game out.”
Now Tyrone, with little time to rest and recover, have a one-week turnaround ahead of their quarter-final clash with a fresh opponent.
“As a player, all you want to do is play games every week. Obviously it’s very tough on your body.”
A shoulder injury kept ace attacker McCurry out of the final round robin game against Westmeath, but Darragh Canavan took on the extra responsibility up front with a scintillating performance and a 10-point haul.
“It was unbelievable what he did last week. he has been doing that in training and in games for the last number of year, but I think this year he has really stood up,” said McCurry of his strike partner.
“I think we have formed a great partnership in there, we both work really well with each other, and again he hit some lovely scores.
“The last day it was tough, sitting it out, especially with what went on in the last 10 minutes.
“But the team pulled through and got over the line, and results like that build a lot of character.
“We knew coming into the Donegal game how tough a battle it was going to be, and I think we stood up very well.
“It was good to get over the line and get back in to Croke Park.”
