Seán Morantalks to a former Tyrone manager who says it's too early to call time on the deposed All-Ireland champions

DESPITE SUNDAY’S comprehensive defeat by Cork, it’s too early to call time on deposed All-Ireland champions Tyrone. That’s the view of former manager Art McRory, who led the county to its first All-Ireland finals in 1986 and ’95.

Reflecting on the disappointment of the weekend’s semi-final, he accepted it as a “setback” but believes some of the reactions have been hasty.

“I have heard all sorts of theories about this. Even Colm O’Rourke on the Sunday Game pronounced the end of Tyrone. In my view that’s arrant nonsense. No doubt Brian Dooher needs to retire and for his own sake I hope he does because he’s pushed his body too far in recent times. He’s had no football this year until the championship and didn’t start until the Ulster final.

“That would leave us with a wee bit of thinking to do because Dooher would be a huge loss. He’s the heartbeat of the whole operation and I would hope that Mickey would keep him about in a managerial capacity.”

The player himself says he won’t rush into any decision about his future as a Tyrone player. Sunday marked the end of a 14th season for the 34-year-old double All-Ireland-winning captain.

But there’s no talk of retirement, and the Clan na nGael man will take time to decide whether he will commit to the cause once again in 2010.

“I’ll not worry about that yet. That’s well down the line yet,” he said. Although there aren’t any players apart from Dooher and Collie Holmes at an age when retirement is an obvious option some players may struggle to maintain the intensity that’s demanded at the top of the game.

McRory is also concerned about the recurrent injury problems of former Footballer of the Year Stephen O’Neill.

“I think Stevie O’Neill is still on a wing and a prayer. He’s very subdued and carrying an injury. It’s a major problem, that tendon below the knee cap. Owen Hargreaves at Manchester United has it and can’t shake it even with constant supervision and the best medical care.”

He doesn’t believe, however, that burnout might be a difficulty. The team and panel was for the most part very young when they came together for the first All-Ireland in 2003 but might not the winning of three titles and the attrition of their high-tempo game have had an effect?

“That’s a theory but I’m not sure I subscribe to it. Physical fitness isn’t too hard to maintain. A player like Ryan McMenamin is a natural athlete and won’t have a problem with his individual programmes. Conor Gormley might struggle a bit more but lifestyle and commitment is so important in all of this and his is absolutely impeccable.

“They looked tired in comparison to Cork but the mental effect of Seán Cavanagh’s illness and Cork’s whirlwind start knocked the stuffing out of them.”

McRory is none the less anxious to give credit to the performance by Conor Counihan’s Munster champions. Having cut a swathe through the championship including a dazzling replay victory over Kerry in the Munster semi-final, Cork maintained their progress by taking a first heavyweight scalp in the defeat of the All-Ireland champions.

“I was hugely impressed by Cork. They have the makings of a team virtually as good as Mick O’Dwyer’s Kerry. They’ve players like John Hayes, Fintan Goold and Michael Cussen to bring in as subs, which means it’s a fierce strong panel.

“I think now that they’ll be mentally ready for Kerry if they end up playing them in the final.”

As regards Tyrone he believes they’ll be back even if reconstituting the challenge may take a little time. “It’s a setback but there are enough young players coming through. We may have to strike out in a slightly different direction but we’ll still be the best team in Ulster even if for the next year or two we’re not up to the very top level, which I think will be Cork.”

-In the lead-up to next weekend's second semi-final between Meath and Kerry, the rival counties have one thing in common.

Both have gone on-line this year and signed up with www.locallotto.ie to raise money for their teams.

The fund-raising service allows supporters of different counties all over Ireland and the world support their teams.

Supporters are informed via email of the winning numbers each week and also get the latest news from the home county.