When it comes to who will come out on top at the culmination of the All-Ireland football championship this year, one county that have been left out of many discussions are Tyrone.
The Red Hands progressed with ease from their preliminary quarter-final against Ulster rivals Donegal on Saturday evening, as the Canavan brothers continue to grow into this championship season.
Though some have suggested that Tyrone are too dependent on Darragh Canavan, their performance against Donegal was a massive step up from what we have seen thus far from the team this summer. A disappointing early exit from Ulster at the hands of Monaghan was followed by a decisive defeat to Galway in the round-robin, and a near miss against Westmeath in the final game of the groups.
Despite their step up in form on Saturday night, Tyrone are still unlikely to be in many pundits' contention to take All-Ireland glory in July, with the likes of Kerry, Dublin, Derry, and the winners of Sunday's game between Galway and Mayo seemingly the frontrunners.
Ahead of that blockbuster clash between Galway and Mayo in Salthill on Sunday, Lee Keegan and Peter Canavan discussed Tyrone's victory over Donegal - and picked them out as a dark horse as we look towards the last eight of the football championship.
Lee Keegan thinks no one will want to draw Tyrone
It is almost easy to forget that Tyrone were All-Ireland champions not two years ago. That 2021 crown came against the backdrop of Dublin, Kerry, and Mayo all experiencing off days at the business end of the season, but Tyrone proved themselves to be full worth for the Sam Maguire come the final at Croke Park.
24 June 2023; Conn Kilpatrick of Tyrone kicks a point despite the efforts of Jamie Brennan of Donegal during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Preliminary Quarter Final match between Donegal and Tyrone at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Speaking on RTÉ ahead of Sunday's game between Galway and Mayo, 2017 footballer of the year Lee Keegan was asked for his thoughts on Tyrone's performance in knocking out Donegal, and said he had been very impressed by the strides taken to improve after their nervy draw with Westmeath last week.
Though he acknowledged the fortune of their opening goal, which came after an error from Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton, Keegan said that Tyrone were ominously coming into form as the championship heats up:
They were very good, I think they're starting to catch form at the right time. Listen, they probably got a lucky start in terms of Shaun Patton making a mistake, and the way he finished his night as well getting sent off.
But Tyrone last night, they meant business. They looked slick, they looked professional. I think that game last weekend is a great lesson for them going forward. As Mattie Donnelly said, the two lads [the Canavans] are breedin' well because I tell you they were absolutely fantastic last night, and they could have finished with a lot more.
Nobody's going to want to get Tyrone. When they get to Croke Park, they have this brilliant mentality about them, we know what they're capable of. No team will want to get Tyrone tomorrow morning.
The Canavan brothers' father Peter was alongside Keegan on the RTÉ balcony at Pearse Stadium, and echoed Keegan's comments about Tyrone's improvements:
It was a really good team performance from Tyrone. I was really critical of them last week with players having an off day, taking Westmeath for granted - they didn't take Donegal for granted.
There was an edge to them, there was a bit of a bite to them, and they got the performance that they wanted. Eventually, they're up and running - and they're going to have to be. No matter who they get tomorrow morning, it's going to be a tough quarter-final next week.
Tyrone will discover their quarter-final opponents when the draw is made on Monday's Morning Ireland show at 8:30am on RTÉ Radio One. They could face Derry, Dublin, or Kerry, in what would mark a proper make-or-break test of their All-Ireland hopes.
You can guarantee that none of those teams will fancy a meeting with Tyrone next week.
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