Stephen O’Neill’s magic is beginning to work for Tyrone.
One of the game’s greatest forwards was drafted in at the beginning of the season as forwards coach, and the former Footballer of the Year’s influence has been evident in recent weeks.
The goal-shy Red Hands hit the net twice last weekend, both spectacular strikes, but also notable for the clever, rehearsed build-up play that made them possible.
Lee Brennan and Conall McCann both rifled home goals to rout Mayo at McHale Park, while Mark Bradley was a goalscorer in the win over Donegal a week earlier.
“They were very good finishes, and we are creating more goal chances, and getting more goals, which is what we want,” said defender Frank Burns.
“That’s what Stephen O’Neill is in for this year, to help give us that sort of attacking threat.
“Stevie, along with Mickey (Harte) and Peter Donnelly and Horse (Gavin Devlin) are all putting in the work on the training ground.
“Stevie has been doing his offensive drills and they are starting to come into play a bit more, and it’s showing.”
Tyrone have secured their Division One survival with a game to spare, and Kerry travel to Omagh this weekend also safe as a top flight force.
It may be a dead rubber on paper, but a final competitive game before Championship carries an obvious significance.
“Any day you play Kerry, you want to go out and win, especially on our home patch.
“Kerry have come to Omagh in years gone by and probably thought it wasn’t a hard place to come to and win,” Burns added.
The Pomeroy Plunketts man, a defensive star over the past two games, appears to have done enough to nail down a place in the team.
A starter against both Donegal and Mayo, he has tasted success on both occasions, and is keen to keep that winning run going, particularly as Healy Park is set to host the big Ulster Championship clash with Monaghan.
“We have said to ourselves this year that we want to make Omagh a fortress, and make it that anybody that comes to our home patch are going to have to really fight for a victory.”
“And it will be no different with Kerry.”
A successful defence of the Ulster title is high on Tyrone’s agenda, but Burns insists that for now, the sole focus will be on getting the better of fierce rivals Kerry.
“Monaghan is not for another six or seven weeks yet, so we’ll just look towards this Kerry game next, and we’ll look to Monaghan after that.”
Burns typified the battling spirit that Tyrone displayed at Castlebar last Sunday, when a second win on the trot lifted them to safety.
“The last two games, we knew we were in a position where we could be facing a relegation battle, so we just said we’d take it a game at a time.
“We got the two points against Donegal, and with another solid performance, we got another two points, and that leaves us safe now in the league, and that’s all we relly wanted.
“It’s always a good day if you beat Mayo. It was a good win, we played well, but we’ll not look too much into it.
“But it’s only the league, and Mayo’s a different kettle of fish come the championship.”
