Ryan recalls epic Tyrone-Dublin battles

Shane Ryan knows what it’s like to face a rampant Tyrone side

FORMER Dublin midfielder Shane Ryan has spoken of his admiration for Tyrone ahead of their eagerly-awaited All-Ireland semi-final clash on Sunday.

As well as claiming that there is a “nervousness” in his county ahead of Sunday’s big game, the Namh Mearnog clubman says the successful Tyrone side of the noughties were much more than a finely tuned defence.

He lost All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2005 and 2008 to Mickey Harte’s side and explains that their attacking performances were magnificent.

“It’s funny that people used to talk about Tyrone bringing in puke football and things like that. I always thought they had the best forwards in the county at that time.

“The scores that [Stephen] O’Neill was putting over in our games with them, Brian Dooher from 50 yards out, they had some brilliant footballers.”

The full inteview with Shane Ryan is available in store today or online here.