The legendary Tyrone team of the noughties won three All-Irelands, starting in 2003. One of the unique training methods of that team was the use of POWERbreathes, a handheld resisted breathing devices which the successful English World Cup rugby team of 2003 used under Clive Woodward to improve lunge capacity. Paddy Tally subsequently introduced them to Tyrone, the most athletic team of that era.
The Tyrone team of today will need a lot more than POWERbreathes to reclaim that tag or All-Ireland title. A proposition like Dublin has not existed in the history of the modern game.
For all the talk of processions and calk-walks, Tyrone perfected much of their approach coming into this game. They restricted Dublin to far below their 28.1 average point total and beat Dublin's average scores conceded of 15 points. It wasn't enough.
After 15 minutes, Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin will have been content with how the game had unfolded. An early lead, an off-day for Dean Rock on the frees, two poor Stephen Cluxton kick-outs; all things that must happen if you want to beat Dublin. Then, in the space of a crucial five minute period the game swung on its head and the tables were turned. By the time Tyrone regained their bearings, the score was 2-7 to 0-6.
Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan had a decent return of 18/24 from his own kick-out, but was 100% after a strong start. Initially, Dublin pushed with a man-on-man press on Morgan's kick-outs. A full field press is too hard unless it is a set-piece, but after Dean Rock converted his first free they went man-on-man.
Immediately prior to the penalty, Dublin went zonal instead. The short-centre channel and out wide were cut off and Morgan was forced to go long and down the middle, right on top of the best fielder in Gaelic football right now. Brian Fenton turned it over and Dublin won a penalty.
Despite missing a penalty against Laois, Paul Mannion stood up and expertly converted it.
Dublin then scored once more thanks to a Dean Rock point and from the next kick-out it happened again. A zonal spread with three Dublin forwards fully pushed up, Morgan goes long and Fenton collects.
Brian Fenton's influence here cannot be under-estimated. No team in the country has been able to identify a suitable opponent for him. If he is paired with a big fielder, he runs them into the ground. If he's against a pacey runner, he lords it in the air. At 25-years-old, he has never lost a Championship game.
Fenton famously never played minor football for Dublin, with the manager Dessie Farrell overlooking him. Another man on that team was Paul Mannion. Farrell convinced Mannion to chose Gaelic football over soccer. However, by 2015 their roles had reversed. Fenton won an All-Ireland title, starting in midfield and kicking a score against Kerry. Mannion didn't play, he was in China as part of his studies. Returning to the fold was tough, as he outlined in an interview with Dublin GAA.
I remember the first league game of the year. The first half I was absolutely knackered at half-time - I came in and got sick in the sinks at Croke Park. It raised eyebrows a little bit.
I knew after coming back from the year I had I wasn't in the best of shape. It wasn't really surprising ... it took a long time to get back up to that level.
Mannion was a brilliant footballer with low-level conditioning. He is now, like Fenton, at his peak in all facets of the game. The duo shone before, during and after the penalty. They demonstrated the underlining reality of this Dublin team.
In the 23rd minute, Dublin attacked and Tyrone did what few can, they turned them over. Ciaran Kilkenny was harried and pulled for overcarrying. A huge plus for Mickey Harte's side.
Tyrone attacked quickly and delivered a ball to just outside the '45. This was a huge opportunity. Cian O'Sullivan was exposed in the Dublin half. It was evident he was struggling and now Tyrone had a chance. Whether it be Conor McManus versus Mark Griffin, or Paul Mannion versus Eoghan Kerrin, a clearly defined situation where attacker skins defender on the break has proved fruitful this year.
Then Dublin did what they do. They are a unique breed of athleticism and intelligence. With Tyrone flooding forward, they have players capable of spotting the danger and addressing it. Enter Paul Mannion.
Phillip McMahon was caught up the field, Cian O'Sullivan had been skinned, but Dublin deployed two of their most athletic forwards to cover for it. Paul Mannion spotted Rory Brennan driving forward and raced after him.
The ball breaks towards Brennan, but Mannion and Howard close across.
Mannion dives on the ball.
He wins it and solos out.
Tyrone had done so much right. They turned over Dublin, they hit them on the break and they got past Cian O'Sullivan, but it wasn't enough. O'Sullivan went down for treatment, Mick Fitzsimons came on. Off Dublin's next attack Mannion was storming around Tyrone's goal looking for the ball, it was popped inside to Con O'Callaghan, he feeds Scully and Dublin had another goal.
Skill, athleticism, intelligence all in one quick spell. It is these qualities that make this Dublin team peerless right now.
