Tyrone depth encourages Malachy O'Rourke

Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke was delighted that his team finished with a flourish against Dublin at Croke Park.

The Red Hands eventually prevailed by seven points at GAA headquarters to book a place in the last four of the All-Ireland SFC.

Substitutes Eoin McElholm and Ruairí Canavan were influential in the closing stages as Tyrone impressed. "Dublin were coming back," O'Rourke reflected.

"We did feel that we would have plenty of energy and I think in the second half we pushed up stronger on the kick-outs and we turned them over a few times. We were prepared to go to the final whistle. That was the attitude coming here.

"It was great then. Eoin coming on, Ruairi coming on, kicked a couple of great scores as well. It just gave us that wee bit of breathing space and we finished the game really strong."

O'Rourke is encouraged about the depth of the Tyrone panel. "All the boys are working really hard so you're more than happy to throw them in at any stage," he remarked.

"Just as fellas were getting tired, Eoin with his pace and that was very good and then Ruairi with his movement. The two of them are very accurate and they're confident in front of the posts. So, it was a great time to introduce them."

"Overall, we're delighted. We've used a lot of different players with injury and different things. A number of fellas came in, but all the panel is working really hard and we're more than happy to throw different fellas in when we see fit, depending on who's coming off and things like that. So, I'm delighted for them all."

Ultimately, O'Rourke felt that Tyrone's dynamic second period display was crucial. "I thought the first half was a cagey enough game," O'Rourke remarked.

"We weren't at our best. We got into half time still leading by a point and we felt we could be better in the second half. Our urgency all around the field was better in the second half.

"In the first half there were a number of unforced errors. They were able to turn us over. We weren't as effective when they were attacking. So, it was a case of trying to put more pressure on other players out the field.

"Work had to be up a bit and then when we got the chance it was being clinical. I suppose, that's the way it worked out in the end."