You wouldn’t do that in a game so don’t do it in training…
But Ronan O’Neill would. He’d do it in a bloody Ulster final, for God’s sake.
Tyrone disposed of Down like they were only a routine Sunday chore to notch their second successive Ulster title and bring Mickey Harte’s personal tally in the province to six.
Mickey Harte:
🏆 6 Ulster titles
🏆 3 All-Irelands
🏆 1 National League#Legend pic.twitter.com/CRSlBslCuD— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 16, 2017
The Red Hand outfit ran out 2-17 to 0-15 victors after they were held to a two-point margin by half time and it was the sort of impressive performance that made the country sit back and worry a little about the might of this team – until Dublin went and bettered it again of course.
You think Tyrone are unbelievable – then you watch Dublin.
There’s no doubt that the northerners are up there with the best of them though – with Dublin and with Kerry – but they still have to prove that they’re capable of scalping one of the big guns to truly show their All-Ireland credentials.
As Sean Cavanagh made his 87th championship appearance for the county, they advanced to the quarter-finals where he’ll now have the opportunity to match Tomás and Marc Ó Sé’s records but it’s not about those personal tallies – it’s about bridging a gap back to 2008, to when they last go to contest for Sam.
This was a good platform though.
The win would’ve been all the more sweet for Mickey Harte who brought Ronan O’Neill and Lee Brennan off the bench in the last 17 minutes – the latter only getting four – and the pair kicked 2-1 between them to show the depth that the Ulster champions are boasting.
But it was Omagh man O’Neill who really stole the show with two finishes of the highest quality – the last of which even trumped Jamie Clarke’s bit of magic in Tipperary.
Cannot underestimate the magic of Ronan O'Neill's lob. The second goal of the weekend that George Best would be proud of
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) July 16, 2017
The lob really was something else.
It was the sort of finish that only takes place at the club when a training game has descended into utter chaos and either the manager cracks up with the team at how slack things have gotten or the ‘keeper throws a wobbler because he’s been left red-faced but he makes the point that you won’t be pissing around like that in a game so don’t be f**king trying it in training.
WATCH:
The 2 goals that clinched the @UlsterGAA Championship for @TyroneGAALive! #UlsterGAA #UlsterFinal #GAAclips pic.twitter.com/TPimt0hLyJ— eir Sport (@eirSport) July 16, 2017
O’Neill doesn’t give a damn about the occasion. If you so much as come eight yards off your line, you’re there to be lobbed.
Clinical. Beautiful. Tyrone at their best.
Football at its finest.
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