By Michael McMullan

CIARAN Gourley hopes Tyrone can do themselves justice when they step into the All-Ireland arena against Galway this Saturday.

They head into the All-Ireland Minor Championship quarter-final on the back of winning the county’s 26th Ulster title last weekend.

Gourley has been down this road enough times to know how it rolls. Having lost an All-Ireland minor final as a player to Laois in 1997, he went on to win U21 and senior medals.

He is part of manager Gerard Donnelly’s management team that brought home the Tom Markham Cup last season.

“The beauty of getting into the All-Ireland series is maybe you don’t know the other opposition just as well,” Gourley said, also referring to players being familiar with each other in school football.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll do ourselves justice when we step out into that sort of environment.

“It’s another competition and we had a great journey in it last year. All we’ll do is do our best the next week again to try and see if we can get another journey for this group of players.”

Tyrone’s management team will know two things this week. Firstly, their success in Ulster proves they have the talent.

They’ve also had to dig deep. After losing the Ulster Minor League final to Monaghan, they still needed all their resolve to come from 11 points down in the semi-final to oversee Cavan.

From someone who coaches at MacRory Cup level in St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon, Gourley also knows the inner workings of the teenage mindset.

“I always tell the lads they are building up a bank of experience every time they step out on the pitch,” he said.

“Every game takes on a life of its own and there will be things that will happen in the game that we didn’t plan for or expect to happen.”

Gourley backs up his statement with examples. Dealing with Cavan’s use of the ball. Tyrone’s recovery to Derry’s fortunate early goal and how getting the next score was important.

Ciaran Gourley in action for Tyrone against Monaghan in the 1997 Ulster minor final

“Matthew F Daly, for example, was man-marked by number four (Derry’s Dara McKaigue),” Gourley added, himself a former defender.

“At times in the first half, he (Daly) still gave us a good threat. He was able to read the situation and not get himself caught up in the middle.

“Then, when he read the opportunity, he got in there, got shots and scores for us.”

“Every day as a coach, no matter what, you can’t always think you’ll prepare for every imaginable scenario,” Gourley added. It’s all about using every nugget to improve.

“The biggest thing I’d say we learned from what we’ve played so far, is we know when we are on our game, we make sure that you capitalise on the opportunities,” Gourley added.

“You don’t know, when the other team have their patch, how you’ll deal with them.”

The Ulster final was the perfect example. Derry owned the first 15 minutes but only led by a point. It was Tyrone’s time after half-time when they hit an unanswered 1-8 to help bring them towards the finish line.

“I wish you could put my finger on it and say there’s a magic formula and you can just turn it on,” Gourley said when asked what changed at half time.

“The players have to realise there’s an opportunity go and get themselves an Ulster title.

“I would be encouraging the players to play on the front foot, get in front of their man and to be brave.”

Reflecting on their Ulster semi-final and final wins, that’s what Gourley pin-pointed.

“I’m not going to say I know the perfect psychology. I wish I did. I’ve been on the flip side of losing games too. Sometimes you wonder how you lost a game from a winning position.

“It’s all down to each individual stepping up collectively and wanting it more than the man beside me.”