Reaching the Super 8s again hasn’t erased the hurt of Tyrone’s big loss to Donegal, says Kieran McGeary.
The Red Hands bounced back from the body-blow of last month’s four-point Ulster semi-final defeat with back-door wins over Longford, Kildare and Cavan to set up tomorrow’s opening Super 8s clash with Roscommon, but their run hasn’t healed the wounds Donegal inflicted five weeks ago.
“Absolutely not, we took the Donegal defeat extremely badly,” McGeary admitted.
“It still is sore with us.
“They are where they are for very good reasons but it was a massive learning curve for us.
“I wouldn’t say we were extremely cocky going into it, not one bit, but they certainly nipped us on the day.”
Mickey Harte’s men were favourites heading into the Ulster semi-final having beaten Donegal in last year’s final round Super 8s game in Ballybofey, which put Tyrone through to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
It’s possible the north-west rivals could clash in this year’s last four, depending on how they fare in their respective Super 8s groups.
That’s a scenario Tyrone would relish, McGeary adding: “You never know we could meet them again later on.
“But we are in the mindset where we are taking Roscommon first, then it’s Cork in Croke Park and Dublin in Omagh.
“We are on the road again from that Donegal defeat, and we have been getting better and better.
“We went to Roscommon in the League and we could have easily been beaten.
“They are provincial winners sitting on a high. They’ll have loads of support and they’ll be waiting for us.”
Last weekend’s 16-point qualifier win over Cavan was Tyrone’s most complete performance of the summer so far.
They have built up a head of steam again, living up to their reputation as back-door experts, even as recently last year recovering from a first round defeat by Monaghan in Ulster to make it all the way to the All-Ireland final.
“It’s a taxing journey but it’s enjoyable,” said McGeary.
“Training has to be filtered differently to suit injuries and recovery but we are coping.
“Isn’t that why you have a team and a panel, so that boys can get opportunities?
“I know myself from last year that boys are sitting on the bench biting their nails hoping to get on.
“You saw the influence boys like Ben McDonnell and Kyle Coney had [against Cavan] and you have to trust these boys coming in. You do your job and then hand it over to somebody else.
“We will be ready. The competition will be great, so let the games begin.”
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