Malachy O'Rourke points to urgency and two-point bonus in win

RTÉ News​

29-06-2025

Malachy O'Rourke credited a heightened intensity in the second half and the impact of the bench as key factors in Tyrone's quarter-final victory over Dublin.
Tyrone, in O'Rourke's first season in charge, are back in an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since their triumphant campaign in 2021, after a powerful closing burst saw them win by seven in the finish.
Inconsistency has been a familiar failing in the years since and at half-time, they hadn't appeared to have turned any corners.
They led by a single point at the break, having relied heavily on a glut of two-pointers from Peter Harte, Kieran McGeary and Peter Teague when attacking the perceived 'scoring goal' at the Canal End side.
However, the second half saw Tyrone dial up their defensive intensity, forcing more turnovers and pressurising the Dublin kickers.
"Just delighted to get through it," O'Rourke said afterwards. "I thought the first half, it was obviously a cagey enough game. We weren't at our best.
"But we got in at half-time, still leading by a point. And we felt we could be better in the second half.
"I just felt 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.
"It was a case of trying to put more pressure on their players out the field. Our workrate had to up a wee bit. And then when we got the chances, it was about being clinical. That's the way it worked out in the end."
Tyrone had managed to cling onto their slender lead for the majority of the second half, partly thanks to Dublin's latest outbreak of yips in front of goal.
With the game still tit-for-tat, the Tyrone bench arrived to provide the winning burst, with Ruairí Canavan landing two points, while Under-20 star Eoin McElholm and Ben McDonnell also grabbed scores as the four-time All-Ireland champions kicked for home.
"All the boys are working really hard so you're more than happy to throw them in at any stage.
"Just as fellas were getting tired, Eoin with his pace and Ruairí with his movement were very good. Both of them were very accurate and confident in front of the posts. It was a great time to introduce them."
The two-point splurge in the first half proved key, with Tyrone landing four in total across the opening '35, three of which came in the first 10 minutes.
Critically, Dublin were entirely unable to replicate the feat when attacking with the aid of a slight breeze into the sheltered goal on the Davin Stand side.
Indeed, it was Tyrone who landed the only two-pointer of the second half, through Niall Morgan in the final seconds when the celebrations were already in train.
"It wasn't a case that we came and said we're going to go for two-pointers," says O'Rourke.
"But we have a number of lads who are good at shooting from distance and it just opened up and the boys backed themselves to score.
"There's no doubt it had a big impact in the first half. It meant we went in leading by a point but we had four two-pointers which is massive. It was one that worked well for us today. There's no doubt it had a big impact on the final score."
The win marks definite progress for Tyrone in O'Rourke's first season. The campaign has not been without setbacks, Tyrone pulling off the unprecedented feat of getting relegated from Division 1 after amassing seven points.
They subsequently were pipped by Armagh in the Ulster semi-final. The landmark group stage victory over Donegal in Ballybofey was followed by an exceptionally flat performance in a loss to Mayo.
Through it all, O'Rourke insists they were improving.
"In fairness to the boys, they've shown great application all year. I suppose the league was difficult without some of the players missing and that sort of thing but we knew they were working really hard in training.
"We knew that there was a lot of improvement in them and we felt coming here today that we were still improving.
"The first half wasn't as good as we'd liked but you're playing a quality team as well.
"Overall, we're just delighted to get through it and to be in the last four."