Northern Ireland

Video: Times Square shows support for Tyrone in All-Ireland final

Tyrone star Niall Sludden's face beams down from Times Square, New York
Tyrone star Niall Sludden's face beams down from Times Square, New York Tyrone star Niall Sludden's face beams down from Times Square, New York

SUPPORT for Tyrone's All-Ireland quest knows no bounds with an image of one of county star being beamed across a world-famous landmark.

Excitement ahead of Sunday's final has spread as far as Times Square in New York where the smiling face of Niall Sludden has appeared on a massive billboard in one of the world's busiest pedestrian areas.

With just two days to go before Mickey Harte's men take on Dublin at Croke Park, it's all part of the buzz around the Tyrone football team as fans at home and abroad show their support for the men in red and white.

Flags are flying from countless shops and banners being unfurled at pubs, including one taunting the Dubs at Sally's of Omagh.

Manager Connor McGirr said it had "become a bit of tradition" to have a banner outside when Tyrone make the final.

"This year we took inspiration from what (Dublin captain) Bryan Cullen said before about seeing you in Coppers (Copper Face Jacks nightclub) when he ended his 2011 All-Ireland speech," he said.

"But we have changed it to 'see you in Sally's'.

"We have done the banner since 2003, so it's become a bit of a tradition, people expect it now.

"It's all a bit of craic, which we hope there will be plenty of come Sunday."

Thousands of miles away and a Co Tyrone-born businessman has shared his love of his home county on the streets of his adopted city.

Dromore man Brian McLaughlin, who owns Carragher’s Bar near Times Square - known as the 'crossroads of the world' - organised for a video to appear on a massive billboard.

It shows an image of Niall Sludden as well as a short clip of the Dromore man running across the field.

"I wanted to bring a bit of Tyrone here to New York," said Mr McLaughlin.

"The video is only about eight seconds long and you can't fit 25 faces on it, so I had to choose one player.

"With Niall Sludden being a Dromore man like myself and I also played with his father years ago, he was the one I chose. I contacted him for his permission and he was shocked.

"The billboard is about two blocks from my pub, already so many people will have seen his face flash up, which is great."

Mr McLaughlin said he is disappointed he can't make it home for the Croke Park clash, but is hoping Tyrone can clinch the title again.

"I would have loved to have got home to see the game, but I'm not able to as we have a new baby," he said.

"I think it's better for someone who is at home to get a ticket for the game, but this allowed me to show a bit of support for my county.

"I'll be watching here in my home and hoping that Tyrone can do it, I'm hoping for a good result.

"New York is great, but it's not home, especially on All Ireland weekend."