By Barry O’Donnell

NINE months of blood, sweat and tears concludes for Tyrone in Sunday’s All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies final against Leitrim at Croke Park

Manager Sean O’Kane is hopeful that they can sign off their journey on a celebratory note.

The Red Hands tackle surprise packets Leitrim, keen to repeat their success of 2018 when they hit Meath for six goals in the decider.

The Red Hands have endured mixed fortunes since, but after an excellent league campaign, in which they sealed promotion back to Division One, the squad are desperate to round off 2024 with some silverware.

In terms of effort, sacrifice and commitment Sean O’Kane believes that victory on Sunday would be a fitting reward for his charges.

“We are at it since early November,” he said. “There has been some bad old nights up here at Garvaghey with the weather but the players loyalty and dedication never dropped.

“We had one challenge match pre-Christmas last year and that was Leitrim as well at Longford Slashers. That was a tight game as well. It’s ironic that you wind the clock forward eight or so months and we are now meeting them in
the final.”

O’Kane had three previous stints as Tyrone manager, before stepping into the breach again in March 2022, alongside Barry Grimes. He also masterminded the county’s All-Ireland Junior triumph, some 25 years ago, in 1999.

This year’s campaign hasn’t always been plain-sailing, with the team actually suffering three successive defeats at one stage.

Sean admitted that the reversal to Kildare in the Division Two final at Croker Park did knock the stuffing out of the side, psychologically, for a spell.

“Two mistakes in the game cost us. We didn’t do a pile wrong to be honest but we definitely had a hangover after that. We felt it was one that got away from us. Sometimes you learn more in defeat than victory.”

Also at Croke Park on Sunday, Fermanagh take on Leitrim in the All-Ireland Junior final with Kerry facing Galway in the senior decider.