Mikey Sheehy focused on Tyrone’s counter-attacking

Twelve years after infamously predicting Tyrone would beat Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, Mikey Sheehy is at it again. Only this time in the reverse – and for obvious reasons.

Back then, Sheehy, an eight-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry, was writing a column in a local newspaper; now, he’s a selector under Eamonn Fitzmaurice, and views Sunday’s semi-final showdown against Tyrone on more intimate terms.

"At that particular time, I was doing an article for the Kerryman," Sheehy recalls, "and I'd say I was nearly ran out of Tralee. Because I'd predicted, all right, that Tyrone were going to win the game. But I think it was a fluke, really, a bit of a lucky one.

“This one [on Sunday] is a difficult game to call. I saw Tyrone’s last game [against Monaghan], and a lot of people talk about Tyrone and their defensive system, which is a very disciplined.

Big scores

“But people must realise they’re racking up big scores. They counter-attack and I think, during the qualifiers, they’ve averaged the bones of 17, 18 points a game. So that’s quite impressive as well.”

Sheehy admits tactics will play a key part on Sunday, and in his role as selector, part of that means doing his homework. “There’s way more in-depth analysis of teams that you’re playing,” he says. “In fairness, Eamonn does most of it, but he would always consult us too, so you’d have a way bigger say than it was back in my day.

Great run

“So look, it’s going to be a fascinating game, and we feel we’re well prepared for it. Tyrone have had a great run through the back door, but I think that maybe our second game against Cork might stand to us in a battle.

“We played very well against Kildare. A lot of people will say Kildare didn’t play well, but I felt we played well on the day. I think it’s going to be a very, very tight game but I’d be quietly confident that if we play like we did in the replay of the Munster final and against Kildare, I think we can come out on top. But I think it will be one hell of a battle, a battle we’re looking forward to.”