EXCLUSIVE NEWS: Tyrone GAA - SoN is Back!

[fred the red]

I heard a rumour today that O'Neill isnt really back, and was used to divert the attention off the rest of the tyrone squad in the build up to the game.

[gerry]

does anyone know did he lift the cup with the rest of the players as i read in the papers today that he did not.

[ExiledGael]

Don't think he did. Heard this morning he didn't hang around today either and left hotel early.
Anyone know if he's at the homecoming?

[Down Gael]

Will O`Neill get a medal?

[An Fear Rua]

Will O`Neill get a medal?

Yes he does.

I heard the following today from someone at UTV - Oneill had gone down the tunnel on his own at the end as he didnt want to go up for the cup, as he didnt feel he deserved it, He was "dragged" back by Mugsy and ANOther as the whole team wanted him there. The two players reportedly told oneill that "if it wasnt for him they wouldnt have had medals in 2005 , so they were happy to return the favour this time round"

might be untrue, might not

[Puckoon]

It says it all about SON really. He is obviously a man of great integrity, honour and humility. Not immune to the criticism that came his way after his declaration of intent to return to the panel, he appeared to suffer from some degree of personal inner turmoil at the final whistle and during the presentation.

Word has it that he insisted to management that he didnt want a medal at the expense of any other panelist.

He has more class and humility than some of the hounds that took pleasure in stirring the crap after his return - and the faceless nameless posters on GAABOARD who were all too happy to assume that Stephen O'Neill is some kind of glory hunter.

[maggie]

It says it all about SON really. He is obviously a man of great integrity, honour and humility. Not immune to the criticism that came his way after his declaration of intent to return to the panel, he appeared to suffer from some degree of personal inner turmoil at the final whistle and during the presentation.

Word has it that he insisted to management that he didnt want a medal at the expense of any other panelist.

He has more class and humility than some of the hounds that took pleasure in stirring the crap after his return - and the faceless nameless posters on GAABOARD who were all too happy to assume that Stephen O'Neill is some kind of glory hunter.

Very eloquently put Puck

[ONeill]

Twas one of the southern papers that had an article on the aftermath of the game in Croke. They said he sauntered alone on to the bus and opened a book to read whilst the others gave interviews etc.

[maggie]

Jermone Quinn gives a diff take on it on the bbc website.

So it's all over, Tyrone did it with Stephen O'Neill on board, Mickey Harte is vindicated and everybody's happy.

Well, not quite. Stevie himself was very emotional at the end and seemed to want to leave the celebrations before the presentation of the cup.

He was heading down the tunnel when team-mates hauled him back.

The Tyrone number 31 was heard to say "I'm not in it for the glory", which tallies with my information that Stevie insisted privately before Sunday that he didn't want to collect a medal, no matter what the outcome was.

I gather he was offended by adverse comments in some quarters about his much-publicised return just weeks before.

The begrudgers said he would be taking the place of another lad who had trained all year for the right to be in the squad on the big day.

It's a fair point but Stevie's not like that. He offered his services on the condition that the players would make the call. He just wanted to help get Tyrone over the line, in any way he could.

As for the timing, it wasn't great. Stevie could have come back earlier and I hear that he wished he had returned before the Wexford game or even the Quarter-final with Dublin. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Back in January, the fella made a brave decision to opt out of the panel.

Some supporters couldn't understand or accept it at face value, but the simple fact is that O'Neill made the right move for himself and for Tyrone.

The fans remembered him as the dazzling forward who won Player of the Year in 2005 but the truth is that injuries restricted O'Neill to just one championship start in the three years since then.

It was a nightmare time and the man needed a break.

His return was a massive gamble but it worked because Tyrone won and because Stevie played his part.

Overall, he was poor enough, but Harte can justly point to one flash of brilliance when O'Neill played a Canavan-like pass for the crucial Tyrone goal.

Furthermore, his entrance provided a lift and distracted attention from the potentially lethal blow of Colm McCullagh's departure.

For those of you who might debate this point, I refer you to the 1986 All Ireland final when injuries to key players coincided with Tyrone's collapse against Kerry.
I felt sorry for O'Neill at the end because he was obviously distressed. He's an intensely sincere lad and I think the pressure of the last few weeks finally told.

Mind you, some of that pressure could have been lifted if Stevie had given just one interview.

He doesn't like doing them and he preferred to keep his head down and answer the sceptics on the pitch, but that brought even more pressure onto his shoulders.

If he'd declared that he was simply back to help and that he didn't want to deny anyone a medal, then things might have been slightly easier on himself.

As it was, Stevie avoided the media in the build-up to the game and must have had a torrid time with all the talk about his return, which was fuelled by the confusion over the squad given to the media last Thursday.

That didn't help, and then he found himself off the pace in the game itself.

So give Stevie a break. He put himself on the line for his county when it would have easier to stay away.

The man is a legend in Tyrone, and even better, he's back for next season.

[ardmhachaabu]

It says it all about SON really. He is obviously a man of great integrity, honour and humility. Not immune to the criticism that came his way after his declaration of intent to return to the panel, he appeared to suffer from some degree of personal inner turmoil at the final whistle and during the presentation.

Word has it that he insisted to management that he didnt want a medal at the expense of any other panelist.

He has more class and humility than some of the hounds that took pleasure in stirring the crap after his return - and the faceless nameless posters on GAABOARD who were all too happy to assume that Stephen O'Neill is some kind of glory hunter.

Out of all the celebrations, I wouldn't have expected to see the biggest show of humility to be from O'Neill.  I am happy to be wrong in that as it shows he is a man of character.  I never put him down as a glory hunter though, to me he always had an air of humility about him.  Now, if only he could teach that to others in the Tyrone squad and their supporters, then I could maybe say that they were worthy winners, even for the fact that at several points I thought I was watching an Olympics swimming event

[maggie]

Bowl of sour grapes for ardmhachaabu

[red hander]

It says it all about SON really. He is obviously a man of great integrity, honour and humility. Not immune to the criticism that came his way after his declaration of intent to return to the panel, he appeared to suffer from some degree of personal inner turmoil at the final whistle and during the presentation.

Word has it that he insisted to management that he didnt want a medal at the expense of any other panelist.

He has more class and humility than some of the hounds that took pleasure in stirring the crap after his return - and the faceless nameless posters on GAABOARD who were all too happy to assume that Stephen O'Neill is some kind of glory hunter.

Out of all the celebrations, I wouldn't have expected to see the biggest show of humility to be from O'Neill.  I am happy to be wrong in that as it shows he is a man of character.  I never put him down as a glory hunter though, to me he always had an air of humility about him.  Now, if only he could teach that to others in the Tyrone squad and their supporters, then I could maybe say that they were worthy winners, even for the fact that at several points I thought I was watching an Olympics swimming event

It was five years ago ... get over it, move on with your life, try to be positive, take a walk in the beautiful Armagh countryside, breathe in the air and listen to the birds sing, you'll feel better for it, honestly

[Down Gael]

Bowl of sour grapes for ardmhachaabu

Maybe something to go with that chip on his shoulder.

[gerry]

did not see him tonight in omagh. great to see him in a tyrone top in croker and hopefully we will see him next year wearing it at the same venue.

[Down Gael]

Gerry did you manage to get a ticket?