How Tyrone emerged from the pack to become a leading light

This is the story of how Tyrone footballers morphed from Clark Kent into Superman.

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FOOTBALL IS ART

Before there was Mickey Harte, there was Art McRory, the founding father of Tyrone coaching.

"A hugely gifted and influential man," says Hurl.

McRory was a teacher by profession but really he was more than that. "A pioneer," says Joe McMahon, a Tyrone All-Ireland winner in 2005 and 2008. "He guided; he led; he moulded men."

It was McRory who brought Tyrone to the 1986 and 1995 All-Irelands as well as to their first national title at senior level in 2002. More than that, he was Tyrone's Rinus Michels, Harte their Johann Cruyff.

Everything started with McRory, those successful coaches that came after - Harte, Paddy Tally, Hurl, Peter Canavan, Ciaran McBride, Danny Ball, Brian Dooher, Fergal Logan, Martin Coyle, Liam Donnelly - learning from the master.