08-07-2025
Tyrone icon reveals why Darren McCurry was given his eye-catching nickname
However, towards the end of his illustrious career, he hung around long enough to share the pitch with a young Darren McCurry, who is still shooting the lights out for the team.
In fact, the Edendork forward is now the county's all-time top scorer in the Championship and has rightfully earned himself his nickname 'The Dazzler.'
The All-Star scores at ease, and he looks impressive doing it. As O'Neill reveals on this week's BelTel Sport podcast, released on Thursday, he has the personality for it as well.
'He was a great character,' the 2005 Player of the Year says on the show.
'He used to come out with some great lines and he always showered before training, so I asked him, 'Why on earth would you take a shower beforehand?'
'He had a great quote, and I always remembered it – he said, 'Stevie, when you look good, you feel good, and you play good'.'
The Red Hands veteran must have taken a lot of showers in the 2025 season, then, because he has been in fine form, racking up high scores and leading from the front.
Even when playing alongside stars like Darragh Canavan, Peter Harte, Eoin McElholm and Mark Bradley, McCurry is still the team's top scorer in 2025.
This comes as no surprise to O'Neill because, as much as the flying forward prepares aesthetically for the game, the work he puts in to get his fitness, sharpness and physicality to the right pitch is even more meticulous.
'It was the extra hours that really made him,' the former county star said on the podcast.
'The hours and hours of practice he put in over the years in Edendork – even before training, he would be there kicking with his left foot and then his right foot.
'I remember being out doing some shooting practice with him, and he was so dedicated, just practising the simple things, again and again.
'He really is top-class.'
The Red Hand County will be hoping that McCurry is still dazzling on Saturday when the senior side faces Kerry in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals.
The Kingdom blew Armagh away with a scintillating 15 minutes of football that saw the reigning All-Ireland champions sent packing in the Quarters.
With forwards like David Clifford and Sean O'Shea at their very best, they will be feeling very confident going into this weekend's tie.
However, O'Neill reminded the BelTel Sport podcast that the famous squad he was involved with during the noughties had some very famous battles, and for one reason or another, it was the men from Ulster who seemed to come out on top.
He continued: 'Tyrone playing Kerry in a Semi-Final always leads to that excitement, and that excitement will be in both counties.
'I suppose people will naturally make comparisons to the 2003 clash, and even the one in 2021, and both times went well for Tyrone, so that will give the Tyrone fans a reason to be very excited.'
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It isn't just the senior team that is flying high at the moment, as the Tyrone Under-20s and Minors have both won All-Ireland titles in the summer of 2025.
O'Neill himself lifted All-Irelands in all three age groups, and was a part of a group of young stars breaking into the senior team that eventually helped them go on to lift the Sam Maguire for the first time back in 2003.
With some of the Under-20 stars like Niall Devlin and McElholm already having an impact in Malachy O'Rourke's team, the ex-All-Star can see the positive impact they have made already.
'Winning underage titles gives you that bit of belief,' explained the Clan na Gael clubman.
'Even being a senior player watching the underage ones getting success, it also gives you that extra bit of hunger.
'You see these young lads getting success and it makes you want to do that as well, and I have no doubt that the current Tyrone lads would have been looking at the Minors, the Under-20s and will be looking to repeat that success at Senior level.'
Tyrone will take on Kerry in their All-Ireland SFC Semi-Final on Saturday, July 12 at Croke Park. Throw-in is scheduled for 5.00pm, with live coverage on BBC Two NI and RTE2.
