Harte glad of win but looking at road ahead

Such was the composure of Mickey Harte, in the aftermath of Tyrone's latest Ulster football triumph, he happily delivered his typically insightful analysis just as Brian Dooher was delivering his winning acceptance speech. Perhaps it was something of a giveaway, that Harte has his eyes on a bigger prize.

"Obviously I'm very happy we've come through a game like that on the way," started Harte. "An easy game here certainly wouldn't have been good preparation for a quarter-final. But that certainly was very hard, and we'll be thankful for that hard game later on, I'm sure.

"But I think in the second half, when we went 16-8 up, we'd have to be very disappointed that we didn't close the game, at least take better control. But Monaghan were in that game for the long haul, and in the end we were lucky to sneak away with the two points.

"We contributed to making it tough on ourselves, and that's something we have to work on. It was a serious contest, but we still had the upper hand when it mattered most. We still lived on our nerves for a good bit, because they definitely had their goal chances. But I think we can feel proud as Ulster champions tonight. There is a sense of achievement in winning this title, and that should never be forgotten."

Harte was also typically composed on the sideline when Vincent Corey so nearly delivered the equalising score: "It was one of those games where anything could have happened, and I certainly wouldn't have been surprised if he stuck the ball in the back of the net. Monaghan didn't let go, but it was very important for us to win that. We always said it was more important for us to go through the front door this year. It's the safer way to go, more predictable."

There wasn't too much distress in the face of Owen Mulligan either, despite the close nature of the game: "Well it was looking like the year of the underdog there, with Sligo winning. So that was a great game to win. And maybe Monaghan were a little unlucky there in the end, and maybe should have drawn. That probably would have been a fair result for them. We clicked against Donegal, but today we were a bit patchy, but I think Monaghan made it that way for us."

So to Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney, who was taking great pride and joy in the way his young team had pressed Tyrone all the way to the line.

"We're disappointed we didn't win the game," he said, "because we came here expecting to win, felt we were as good as Tyrone. But I'm very, very proud of the boys. And let's put in this way, the championship is only beginning for us. It's knockout from here on, and bring the next team on.

"But there was some wonderful effort out there, and these players have matured mentally and physically. I definitely thought they were strong enough to grind out a draw in the end, but it was our first Ulster final in 19 years. Maybe we have to lose one before we win one again."

The switching of Corey from full back to full forward so nearly won it, though McEnaney reckoned he had no choice: "I made that decision on the way into the dressingroom at half-time. I had realised Vinny was on a yellow card and a tick. But he also plays full forward with his club, and can play anywhere. They're the chances you take, and he was exceptionally good.

"But I do think we were a little bit unfortunate not to scrap a draw. And maybe the first five or six minutes was costly to us in the end."