All-Ireland Final build-up

By John Haughey

Tight selection calls for bosses

The Irish weather may have looked foul but Brian McGuigan's mind was quickly made up as he watched his team-mates and friends eventually subdue Down.

It was 22 May. Brian McGuigan was looking at the Healy Park contest on a TV screen in Australia, midway through his year out.

"When it came to Down match and the buzz of the championship...it's not easy missing it," says the Ardboe man.

"And I knew there was another All-Ireland in this team.

"That really made up my mind."

Four months later and McGuigan's confidence in his team-mates is on the verge of being vindicated.

Peter Canavan's return to the fold, inevitably grabbed all the headlines, in May and June but you could argue that McGuigan's availability has been almost as important to the Red Hand cause.

McGuigan isn't anywhere near the top of Tyrone's scoring statistics but people in the know, will tell you that he is a vital part of the Tyrone machine.

I don't think I've been playing to my ability Brian McGuigan

The man's fitness is exceptional. Witness that fact, that he was pitched into championship action in the game against Cavan, less than 10 days after his return from Down Under.

One suspects other players in a similar situation would have come back carrying extra pounds which would have taken a bit longer to shed.

The 24-year-old had kept himself in trim by playing for a local gaelic club down in Australia.

"It wasn't the kind of standard that I'm playing now but it helped to keep me in touch with the ball and kept my fitness levels up a bit.

"But when I came on at half-time in the drawn game against Cavan, it probably gave a bit of a false impression about where my fitness was at because I was coming on fresh, against Cavan fellows who had been giving their all for 35 minutes."

Come the replay, McGuigan was in the Tyrone starting line-up and it's no surprise that he's remained in the number 11 jersey over the next seven championship matches.

BBC GAA pundits Martin McHugh has remarked this season on the way that McGuigan "can control games".

Owen Mulligan is mobbed by young fans in Carrickmore

A case in point was the drawn Ulster Football Final against Armagh when McGuigan totally won his duel with Kieran McGeeney.

However, the Ardboe man has not been overly impressed with his own displays.

"I don't think I've been playing to my ability and I suppose I'm grateful that I have one more chance this year to redeem myself."

McGuigan is candid when he acknowledges that the only real enjoyment in modern day football is in the winning.

"During the match, it's just so sore on you so there's not really enjoyment unless you win.

"If you went into a changing room after a match and saw fellows like Brian Dooher, you'd wonder why those boys do it.

"But I suppose the other side of the coin is that those boys thrive on it, at the end of the day."

We weren't focused in 2004 but this year we are Brian McGuigan

McGuigan says the Tyrone squad viewed 2005 as a chance to do themselves justice after a traumatic 2004.

The Ardboe man feels that the "outside factor" of Cormac McAnallen's tragic death had "a lot to do" with Tyrone's early exit from the Championship 13 months ago.

"We weren't focused then but this year we are.

"In spite of that, it's going to take a mighty effort for us to beat Kerry but Jack O'Connor has really put steel into his team."

McGuigan jokes that he is "not looking forward at all" to a probable individual contest against Seamus Moynihan.

"But whoever marks me, it's going to be tough to overcome them."

Come what may, McGuigan intends to return to Australia shortly after the All-Ireland final.

It could be with in tandem Ireland's International Rules squad as he has been included in the provisional panel.

However, if he doesn't make Peter McGrath's cut he will still head back Down Under to finish the gap year that had to be cut short.

But Tyrone fans can rest easily as he will definitely return to Ireland in January.