Mickey Harte was proud of his team's display against Kerry

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte revealed that stirring half-time words from the injured Peter Canavan helped keep his charges on course for All-Ireland glory.

"Peter told us at half-time that the story goes around that Tyrone without Peter Canavan don't have a team and we had to lay that to rest today," said the Red Hand manager after Sunday's win over Kerry.

In the Croke Park corridor, experienced campaigner Brian Dooher and comparative youngster Owen Mulligan also spoke of "doing it for Peter".

"Peter has carried us since I've been around the scene," said Dooher.

"Peter has done everything and it's nice to give him something back.

"He was harshly done by in the first half so this win is for Peter Canavan".

Mulligan spoke of the "lift" that Canavan gave the players at the interval.

"He's a great inspiration to the whole team and it's great to have won this game today especially after the Meath thing (in 1996)," said Mulligan.

Brian Dooher is congratulated by fans after the game

Canavan spoke afterwards of his mixed emotions.

"From a personal point of view I'm devastated with what happened in the first half," he acknowledged.

"But I'm delighted that Tyrone have defeated Kerry and are back in an All-Ireland Final again.

"The boys didn't waver but kept battling on.

"They played some great football - it might not have been the most stylish at times but everyone gave their all for Tyrone".

Like Canavan, Mickey Harte reminded that their were no cups at stake on Sunday.

"But it's the place we wanted to be at the start of the season," said a smiling Harte.

We played for half-an-hour but then went to sleep for a while Brian Dooher

"We had to work very hard to get to this final.

"Kerry, in the second half, showed that they weren't going to hand it to us and I thank them for that because you want to earn your place in the All-Ireland Final.

"But there's another game to play and Armagh and Donegal have their eyes firmly set on the Sam Maguire Cup as well".

Brian Dooher sounded the lone mildly critical note from the Tyrone camp about the display.

"We played for half-an-hour but then went to sleep for a while and let them come back into it," said the Derry-based vet.

"I suppose you have to expect a team like Kerry to have their purple patch but if that match had been on for much longer, we'd have been under severe pressure".