McCullagh magic

By Aileen Moynagh BBC Sport

It is the week of the All-Ireland final, a week when both Tyrone and Kerry will be putting the finishing touches to their game-plans and naming their teams.

Colm McCullagh has come of age as a Red Hands attacker

Mickey Harte and Pat O'Shea have tough jobs ahead of them. But each can only pick 15 from their beloved squads. Fifteen that each will hope can do the business.

One player who is almost certain to start for Tyrone is Dromore clubman Colm McCullagh.

It is hard to believe that the 30-year-old forward never made it at minor level, played only briefly for the U21s and after years of trying to make the senior team, sat on the bench in 2005 when the Red Hands won Sam Maguire for a second time.

But McCullagh is a very talented footballer, not just in Gaelic but soccer as well. It just took time for people to realise it.

Having left the Tyrone team in 2005 he returned to Irish League football but thankfully Gaelic was always his passion.

"Gaelic has always been my number one sport," he said

"Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed playing soccer as well but when I have ever had to pick I have always gone for the Gaelic. It will always be number one.

"I was involved in 2004 and 2005. And in fairness in 2005 I had a lot of injuries.

"I broke a rib and I broke a bone in my hand so I sort of had a bit of bad luck. I only returned for the quarter-final against Dublin and I suppose at that stage it was too late to try and break into the team.

"I gave two years to Tyrone and there's a lot of commitment involved. I got married in 2005 after the All-Ireland final and I was just going to play soccer for a while."

Kerry are a great side and we know we're going to have a very tough game. Colm McCullagh

The one good thing to come from the mounting injuries in the Red Hands camp was a phone call Harte made to one of his former players.

"I played half a season in soccer and then in 2006 Tyrone had a lot of injuries in the forward line.

"Mickey wanted me to come and help out in the replay against Louth, and when he asked me I was in no doubt that I wanted to go back again and I've been there since."

McCullagh was a lifeline to Tyrone. Having drawn against Louth after extra-time in Navan the manager knew he needed something extra.

He knew just the man and McCullagh has secured more than a seat on the bench - he's starred for the team as left corner-forward and hopes he'll start there again in the final.

So for the third time in six years, Tyrone are preparing for a Croke Park decider. They are just 70 minutes away from victory and only Kerry stand in their way.

But Tyrone have been there and done it before. They have beaten the Kingdom before and know they can do it again.

To be the best you have to beat the best and McCullagh is glad Tyrone are there.

"I suppose after the Down match you would have thought the All-Ireland final seemed a long way away, but we've taken every game as it comes and thankfully it's taken us to the final and that's where everyone wants to be.

Peter Canavan scored a goal in the 2005 win over Kerry

"Kerry are a great side and we know we're going to have a very tough game on Sunday but that's where we want to be, in the final and we're in with a shout.

"Kerry and Tyrone have had a few meetings over the years and it's probably the game that everyone wanted.

"We're just glad to be in the final no matter who it is and we'll give it a good lash on the day."

So the end is near. Many said Tyrone could never win another All-Ireland without Peter Canavan.

Well, on Sunday they'll either be proved right or wrong. Peter will no doubt be in the stand hoping they will be proved wrong and McCullagh will second that.

"Everyone knows what Peter brought to Tyrone over the years but things move on and football moves on.

"It would be great to win the All-Ireland because it would put another of those things to bed - that we can't do it without Peter.

"It would end all that talk. To win any All-Ireland no matter who's playing would be a great feat and that's what we're aiming to do."