Tyrone star explains why team will be contenders for years after brutal Kerry loss

A tough one to take.

David Clifford was the top scorer for Kerry with 1-8, while super sub Darren McCurry produced a remarkable performance off the bench, scoring 0-10 in just 26 minutes.

There was a point in it with one minute left after McCurry's final score, but a kickout won brilliantly by Clifford led to a goal for Armin Heinrich, which sealed their county's spot in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

However, despite the cruelness of such a loss for the Red Hands, Martin Donnelly explained why fans should be optimistic.

He said: "I'd be very optimistic as a Tyrone person, the Tyrone fans, they should see what's building there with the team over the last few months.

"Obviously you had a rough patch, but every team has to go through that to earn their stripes, and you you're through that, you know the talent we have coming.

"We have serious operators that weren't even togged out today who will come back and boost the team, and we a serious mountain of stuff coming behind us.

"Tyrone is in a healthy spot, and if you see the fundamentals there and the effort and the attitude, we'll be a tough proposition for any team."

Teams and scorers from Irish Examiner:

Scorers for Kerry: D. Clifford (1-8, 1 tp free, 1 free); D. Geaney (0-8, 2 tps); P. Clifford (0-5, 1 tp free, 1 45); P. Geaney (0-3, 2 frees); A. Heinrich (1-0); D. O’Connor (0-1).

Scorers for Tyrone: D. McCurry (0-10, 2 tp frees, 1tp, 2 frees); E. Jordan (0-4, 1 tp, 1 free); E. McElholm, M. Donnelly (0-3 each); C. Kilpatrick (tp), K. McGeary (tp) (0-2 each); S. O’Donnell, R. Cassidy, M. McKernan (0-1 each).

KERRY: S. Ryan; P. Murphy, J. Foley, D. Casey; G. O’Sullivan, M. Breen, G. White; M. O’Shea, S. O’Brien; J. O’Connor, P. Clifford, D. O’Connor; D. Clifford, P. Geaney (c), D. Geaney.

Subs for Kerry: S. O’Shea for P. Geaney (47); K. Evans for S. O’Brien (56); E. Looney for P. Murphy (57); A. Heinrich for G. O’Sullivan (60); C. O’Neill for R. Cassidy (66); T. Morley for M. Breen (temp, 67-ft); K. Spillane for D. Geaney (68).

TYRONE: N. Morgan; J. Clarke, P. Teague, C. Quinn; K. McGeary, N. Devlin, M. McKernan; B. Kennedy (c), C. Kilpatrick; S. O’Donnell, C. Daly; E. McElholm, M. Donnelly, E. Jordan.

Subs for Tyrone: M. Rafferty for J. Clarke (temp, 24-33); D. McCurry for C. Daly (44); C. Bogue for E. Jordan (56); F. Burns for K. McGeary (59).