Cavan manager Mattie McGleenan believes Mickey Harte can devise a plan to beat the Dubs.
But every Tyrone player must be at the top of his game if the treble-chasing All-Ireland champions are to be dethroned on Sunday week, according to the former Red Hand star.
McGleenan, who played against Dublin in the 1995 All-Ireland final, has no doubt that the Ulster champions will push Jim Gavin’s side to the limit.
“From Tyrone’s point of view, Mickey Harte has proven in the past that he can prepare a team to beat Dublin,” he said.
“You look back to ‘08, when they beat them in a game that they weren’t expected to beat them in, and tactically I think, that puts a question mark in the back of Dublin minds – what is Tyrone bringing to the table?”
Whatever the strategy, the Eglish clubman feels every member of the Tyrone team has to have a big game, if a hugely anticipated All-Ireland semi-final is to produce an upset.
Whatever the strategy, the Eglish clubman feels every member of the Tyrone team has to have a big game if a hugely anticipated All-Ireland semi-final is to produce an upset.
“I know that for Tyrone to win, when they have won the big games like this one, all fifteen players have to stand up and have huge games.
“I think that’s the most important thing going into next week, that every Tyrone player has to have the game of his life.
“That’s what it takes to win an All-Ireland, and it’s important that at the start of the game, every player really goes at Dublin. Too many teams spend their time trying to keep the score down.
“Tyrone love playing Dublin in those big games. The psychological effect of the jersey that’s normally worth five of six points to Dublin when they play other teams means nothing to Tyrone.
“It’s a nil-nil game when Tyrone go out to play them, and that makes it a football match. It’s a fantastic mentality that Tyrone have when it comes to the likes of the Dublin games, and that’s a huge factor.
“It’s the sort of mentality that Crossmaglen and Kerry have brought to winning All-Irelands.”
McGleenan feels that Tyrone have the players on form and in prime mental and physical readiness to make a big statement.
“Paudie Hampsey has been an outstanding player at number six, and Petey Harte as a natural leader around the field.
“If the game is still there towards the end, there’s a confidence in the Tyrone bench now, they have two or three players who can come in and help them get across the line.
“I think that the confidence they will have gained from the National League game earlier on in the year, where they probably should have beaten Dublin, will stand to them.
“Five months ago, there was no mention of what Tyrone could do, and now they’re suddenly in this situation.
“When Mickey Harte gets to this point, he really sniffs success, and he will have them set up and ready to go for what I think is the game of the year.”
Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs will be crucial, and Tyrone’s ability to minimise their effectiveness will be one of the key factors.
McGleenan is intrigued by the possibilities surrounding perhaps the most important of many tactical angles to be covered.
“The tactical end of the game is going to be unreal. Does Tyrone push up on the kick-outs, do they sit back at the start?
“How they set up is a huge part of the game. Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs are absolutely brilliant, his accuracy is amazing.
“If they do force him to go long, Brian Fenton is a huge player around midfield for Dublin. Tyrone’s midfield pairing, be it Colm (Cavanagh) and Mattie (Donnelly) or Declan McClore or Conall McCann, all those players have to have a huge game.
“I feel Dublin have a huge power base around that particular area. The midfield sector is going to be a huge decider in terms of winning the game, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing how that materialises.”
