GAELIC GAMES:THE DEBATE shifted all too rapidly on to Tyrone's apparent demise as a football powerhouse after defeat to Cork.

Gaelic football moves on this Sunday with the meeting of Meath and Kerry, but a mere three days after the champions' departure their philosophical manager, Mickey Harte, was back in Dublin, a stone's throw from Croke Park in fact, speaking candidly about the importance of balancing sport within the confines of life.

On March 2nd, 2004 the Tyrone football captain Cormac McAnallen died in his sleep. The cause was Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) - brought on by an undetected heart defect. Later that same month, 18-year-old Irish rugby player John McCall collapsed and died from cardiac failure at the under-19 World Cup in South Africa.

Two seemingly inexplicable deaths occurring in quick succession to Ireland's most promising young sportsmen prompted widespread medical research that recommends a screening process to ensure detection of any heart problems.

Harte continues to support this cause and came to Dublin yesterday as part of the Never Give Up campaign, organised by the Mater Foundation and Powerade, to raise funds for the family heart screening clinic in the Mater hospital.

"It is estimated that every week one outwardly healthy Irish person under the age of 35 dies suddenly from cardiac disease such as cardiomyopathy or SADS," said consultant cardiologist Dr Catherine McGorrian.

Speaking within the confines of Heart House across the road from the Mater, the Tyrone manager had little difficulty putting a sporting loss, even one as significant as an All-Ireland semi-final, into context.

"It is (still raw), and it always will be. But you have to handle that in your own way. Through years of experience I've come to learn that things are raw and they will continue to be raw for as long as you let them be that way.

"It's time to take your hurt, set it aside and move on. Everybody has to take their own time to do that. I'm learning to do it quicker than I used to; that doesn't mean to say you enjoy it or the experience isn't hurtful in a sporting way, but I really did mean it when I said on Sunday there are worse things in life happening to many people.

"Even the very context we are speaking in today brings that home again. Just at home at the weekend, a young girl in a neighbouring parish of mine, Cathy Cox, was killed in a road accident. I presented her with her player-of-the-year award for her local club Beragh just last year.

"So that's the real ache when you wake up in the morning when things like that happen. Sport, yes it can hurt you, it can upset you and you can be annoyed about it, but I really mean it: you have to keep it in context, keep it in perspective.

"Maybe that helps me to move on, to look ahead. There are more sporting challenges out there and we're all alive to do that, thank God."

A decade of fascinating championship football concludes on September 20th and for all the memories of the Ulster revolution and Kerry's reaction to it, Tyrone will not have a final say on matters.

But to suggest they are a declining football power or have not cemented themselves into the permanent elite is rubbished by minor All-Ireland success last season - a team from which Harte expects six players, and particularly Kyle Coney, to progress into his senior panel as it naturally evolves.

"Through life and through experience you come to understand it's not good practice to allow others to decide how you should feel.

"I've learned to get over that and say people are entitled to their opinion. Sometimes I say I respect their ignorance if that's how they feel about things.

"I don't feel that way at all. There is a wonderful team in Tyrone, wonderful players. There is a good spread of age in it, and you can't be within touching distance of two All-Ireland finals, and one game puts you into oblivion.

"Life's not like that. When you're winning you're not doing everything right. You make mistakes and still win. When you lose you don't do everything wrong, so there are always ways along that spectrum where you are at any given time, and I think we're still at the upper end of the spectrum.

"We're still a decent side and we're still quality players. We'll be on the horizon again in 2010."

After seven seasons managing the senior team and a lifetime preparing for the role, Harte's appetite is not yet sated.

"I'm not spoofing or bluffing, but there was a time when I felt under more pressure than I do now. Maybe that's part of the process of living and learning about what life has to offer you.

"If it was sheer pressure for me then I wouldn't be there. It is a privilege to be working with the best footballers in Tyrone at this time in our history when they are among the best in the country. That's some privilege.

"If I didn't enjoy that and get a feel-good factor from being around people of that quality then I should not be there. I still get that feeling, I still feel it is a privilege and I still feel there is more to do with this Tyrone team. As long as I believe that I am going to stick around another wee while."

The Mater heart appeal receives no Government funding and requires at least €250,000 annually to remain functional.