The spirit and strength is there, Colm Cavanagh sees it every night at training in Garvaghey.

Tyrone have the cut of a team on a mission - a new crop of exciting talent has been introduced to the panel during recent campaigns.

Cavanagh admits that there is serious competition for places in the Tyrone camp. "The dynamics of the panel has changed a lot over the last few years," Cavanagh says. "Younger lads have come in and have really freshened things up with new ideas and they have added value to the squad and aren’t just happy to be part of it.

"They are striving to first of all get in the 26 and then the 15. To be successful in any way we need everybody pulling together and pushing each other on and that is what has happened in this campaign especially.

"You only have to come to any training and see in-house games when guys are falling out with each other and then going back to share a room that night and maybe not speaking for a while, but that is how fierce things are."

Reaching an All Ireland SFC Semi-Final is a clear sign of Tyrone's progress, but Cavanagh acknowledges Mickey Harte's vital role as manager and leader.

"I suppose with different personalities going in and out over the years Mickey has had to adapt in various aspects of his approach," Cavanagh remarks.

"In that time he has changed up the backroom team. Sean (Cavanagh), Justin McMahon and myself have been about a long time but Mickey still has that same respect that I knew when I came into the squad as an 18 or 19 year old.

"He still gets the same respect from all of the players and you just have to move with the times."

Colm Cavanagh has noticed that his brother Sean is relishing playing for Tyrone in what is likely to be his last year operating at inter-county level.

"We don’t really talk about it," Cavanagh states. "I don’t think about it too much. He has probably accepted that this will be his last year, whether he likes it or not, but me and him don’t discuss that.

"I think that he has enjoyed this campaign the most of the last number of years. He can just see it in him that he is really loving coming to training and going to the gym.

"That’s great to see because I think last year even leading up to the Mayo game I didn’t see him doing the things that he is doing this year basically so he is enjoying it.

"Me personally it doesn’t affect me at all as I’m just thinking about the next game and trying to win. He will probably look back in years to come whenever he does finish and maybe look at things and that, but at the minute he is just living the moment and enjoying every time that he comes up to Garvaghey or Omagh."

The Cavanaghs are just delighted to embrace the challenge. Does Cavanagh feel that there is greater responsibility given the fact that so many newcomers have emerged recently?

"Yes, possibly," Cavanagh replies. "I suppose I try to install any sort of wisdom that I have gained over the years to the lads.

"Me personally I wouldn’t be the biggest talker in the changing rooms, but when I get out onto the pitch I would try to keep the boys on their toes because there is no time for taking breaks in this game in the modern day as there is so much energy required.

"I try to talk to the younger lads as much as I can to pass on bits of advice."