Donnelly: The Tyrone team is a brotherhood

Mattie Donnelly holds onto the ball during Tyrone’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Monaghan

TYRONE captain Mattie Donnelly says he is part of a ‘brotherhood’ of players who are now only one step away from All-Ireland glory.

The Trillick man will become only the fifth man to lead Tyrone into an All-Ireland final when the Red Hands take on Dublin next Sunday fortnight at Croke Park.

Their semi-final win over Monaghan has ensured that the search for tickets is now on, and the players themselves will be hoping that the camaraderie which has characterised their season to date will once again come to the fore before 82,000 on September 2.

“It’s nearly like a family, like a brotherhood,” said Donnelly.

“We have a serious belief in each other. Obviously we have taken the knocks and it us helped us mature and get through some sticky patches.

“But it’s more so that there’s a great belief in each other and we have a great desire to be in each other’s company.

“Going into this semi-final, everybody knew the prize that was on the other side. We knew that we were worthy to be there and now we are.”

The full interview with Mattie Donnelly is in this week’s Gaelic Life, in shops now or available here.