Feargal Logan is hoping Tyrone’s traditional All-Ireland hangover has passed, and given way to a spectacular revival this summer.
The Red Hands have never backed up Sam Maguire triumphs with a compelling title defence, and the trend continued last year when the defending champions were humbled by Derry and Armagh as they limped out of the title race.
Ahead of their 2023 Ulster SFC opener against Monaghan, the Tyrone joint-manager admits he has learned that nothing should be taken for granted.
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“If you every get too far ahead of yourself in this life, we all know that you quickly get the come-down,” he said.
“So we ate a bit of humble pie past year. We just couldn’t get the bounce of it, we couldn’t get the victories we needed.
“We suffered along the League, but hung in, and then once the Championship came, Derry got us early on, and that was a sobering day.
“And then we had another sobering day in the Athletic Grounds, so listen, whatever successes prevailed from 2021, they were well expelled over those couple of games.”
Dublin remain the only county to have found the formula for consistent success in the modern era, winning six All-Irelands in a row.
It’s a unique feat that not even the most optimistic of managers can realistically hope to emulate, but Logan does feel that sustained success is achievable.
“We’re working on it. Kerry will be a watch this year. The Dubs won one, and lost one, and then went on their run.
“It’s not easy done in the modern era, and the Dubs are the counter to that. But let’s just see where it all goes to.
“The least we want in Tyrone is to be competitive at the highest end of it, and that’s where we’ll go to.
“And if you stay competitive at the highest end, your luck might bounce for you, and you might come in and out and win a few.”
The malaise of 2022 persisted into the early part of the current season, with three defeats in the first four League games provoking deep concern.
But a late run of three wins on the spin steered the Red Hands clear of relegation from Division One, stoking renewed optimism ahead of the Championship.
“I’m so glad that we won our three games. And the Armagh game was a bumper day, a bumper crowd, and I hope when the Championship comes to town, we can honour that too.
“So it is good. It should be a place that other teams don’t want to come to, and Tyrone’s results should speak for themselves in it. It was good to win three in a row.”
The dressing room remained calm and measured in eth midst of those difficult times, with managers Logan and Brian Dooher placing their trust in the players to steer a path back to the peak performance levels of 2021.
“Most of our lads have been out in most weather, and they don’t need the riot act read to them by anybody, because the motivation comes from within.
“They understand when it’s not going right, and they set to rectify it. So listen, we’re player-led in that regard.”
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