By the time the GAA centenary came around in 1984, Tyrone had never been to an All-Ireland senior final.
Two years later, they made their first ever decider, losing to the last roar of a dying Kerry beast. Nine years later, they were back again, losing out to Dublin.
In 2003, the dam was finally broken, and Tyrone became All-Ireland champions for the first time. They would repeat the feat two years later, before adding a third in 2008. It was an incredible run, one of the best we've ever seen from any county.
For all three of those All-Irelands, and all five of their finals, Tyrone wore white jerseys and red shorts. In 2013, the Tyrone county board quietly made a decision that the red shorts would no longer be part of the county's repertoire, and they would wear the more "traditional" all-white kit.
By traditional, they were referring to the garb worn up until the 1980s. Given the success the county has had since then, surely you could argue 30 year tradition would trump everything that came before, but instead, we've had to endure five long years of Tyrone wearing all-white.
It's something this writer, and many more, have been taking way too seriously in that time.
Why don't Tyrone wear red shorts anymore? It's a complete travesty.
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) June 18, 2017
Tyrone need to get the red shorts back
— Darryl (@darryl1988) April 24, 2016
Why are Tyrone trying to be Kildare with all white. Should have red shorts!
— Cranky Hurler 🍀 (@CrankyHurler) February 8, 2015
Well it's that time of year again. The championship! I say Tyrone all the way,but please bring back the red shorts. They're the lucky ones!
— Brendan Carberry (@MitchieCarberry) May 16, 2014
Really not liking the new Tyrone get up, what was wrong with old red shorts?
— Stephen Hughes (@StephenHughes93) March 3, 2013
Today, the new Tyrone jersey goes on sale, and if pictures from the launch of the jersey last week are anything to go by, common sense has finally prevailed.
Made in Tyrone.
New @TyroneGAALive Home Jersey
In-store & online.
Shop now: https://t.co/ERxp4GlEG5 pic.twitter.com/GbuIEZd5fM— O'Neills (@ONeills1918) November 28, 2017
This Tyrone schoolmaster appears to have mastered his skills...@TyroneGAALive @tyronefab @teamtalkmagLIVE @cnambnaisiunta pic.twitter.com/cIzFQfumjw
— Tyrone GAA mBunscol (@Tyrone_mBunscol) November 22, 2017
New Tyrone jersey pic.twitter.com/YnL1vJKL3c
— Gaa Gear Swaps (@SwapsGaa) November 21, 2017
All is right with the world again. Surely this news catapults Tyrone to presumptive favourites to end the Dubs' strangle hold on Sam next September August.
