Tyrone manager Mickey Harte paid tribute to a superb display from reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin after his side were overwhelmed on Sunday.
It finished 2-17 to 0-11 to the Dubs at Croke Park and speaking to Off the Ball's Oisin Langan afterwards, Harte said: "They turned in a high class performance and I suppose it all really came to life for them when they scored the goal. Before that I thought it was going to be a bit of a face-off to a degree that we would have held them out and that they would have got some scores and they would have got some scores.
"I would have felt that if they hadn't have scored the goal that might have changed the complexion of the game. I felt we would have still been in the game at half-time and then it would have been a different second half altogether but because they got that goal, they rattled off a few more points and we were chasing the game big time.
Dublin's Paul Mannion scores a point under pressure from Padraig Hampsey of Tyrone. Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr
Asked why Tyrone's gameplan didn't work on the day, he said: "It didn't happen because of the ferocity of their tackling. We turned them over a number of times when we were trying to break through for scores and we broke out, but again, at the vital moment, they had enough people back and put enough pressure on to turn the ball over.
"And, when you turn the ball over when you're counter-attacking like that, you're very vulnerable and that's exactly what happened for the goal. We were absolutely vulnerable because we were going forward expecting to be finishing the other side and was turned over and young O'Callaghan was free and finished with aplomb.
The full post-match interview can be heard here:
Mickey Harte on Dublin: "They turned in a high class performance"
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