Croker countdown

By Aileen Moynagh BBC Northern Ireland

Tyrone fans invade Croke Park after their 2003 All-Ireland final triumph

The countdown is on.

With less than a week to go to the All Ireland Final Tyrone fans everywhere are gearing up for yet another classic encounter with the Kingdom of Kerry.

The length and breadth of the county is gradually turning red and white and Gillette sales are down as many are putting beards where their mouths are in support of the 'Beardfather' and his merry, or should I say hairy, men.

Kerry are going for three in a row, We're going for just three. Yes, you've guessed it! I am a Tyrone fan! And a big fan at that.

I have also been a reporter for BBC for the past two years. I know, imagine getting paid for watching football.

Every year for as long as I can remember my dad and I have set off for Dublin on the third Sunday in September.

Up until five years ago we were either faced with disappointment or the wish that someday, somehow, our team would run out onto the green grass below and finally bring Sam Maguire to Tyrone.

I will never forget 1995, sitting in the Lower Cusack, in awe of the stadium I was in and more importantly in awe of the occasion.

I was only five when Tyrone had last made the All Ireland Final in 1986, not that I remember it, but '95 I will never forget.

The anticipation, the excitement and the genuine belief that the barren years were over. Unfortunately it wasn't to be.

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I will never forget the feeling when that final whistle blew. And I will never forget my dad's face when I met him on the pitch.

Dad has been in the backroom team with Tyrone for about 20 years now.

I have grown up knowing very little apart from Gaelic Football and Tyrone.

Over the years my dad and I have travelled all over Ireland supporting Minor, U21 and Senior teams in everything they did.

And this year is no different, only that he will be on the sideline, and I will be in the stand.

For the third time in six years I'll be taking a different road to Croker.

The one with thousands of other expectant Tyrone fans, dressed head to toe in red and white with flags flying and hopes high.

In some ways I think Tyrone have already won. Looking back to 2003 I sometimes pinch myself and think did it really happen!

Peter Canavan struggles to take in Tyrone's 2003 triumph

All those years of disappointment and long journeys home vanished that day. I always wondered would Tyrone ever win an All Ireland, in my lifetime at least.

I know that sounds a bit morbid but you only have to look at counties with little success to appreciate how hard it is.

There is only ever one winner at the end of the day. One out of 32 isn't great odds.

I do think though that everyone will have their day - some day!

2003 was unreal and I had the added unbelievable honour of co-presenting the homecoming in Omagh town centre a day later.

Standing on that stage staring down at tens of thousands of people is a memory that will stay with me forever.

It seemed as if the whole county was in Omagh that night and wild horses would not have kept them away.

And seeing the faces of the team as the came down the street on an open topped double decker bus, they knew that was what they had been working for. It made those cold January nights worthwhile.

All present that night thought Tyrone were unbeatable.

We were not only All Ireland Champions but Ulster and League Champions that year as well.

Even worse, some turned their back on a manager who had brought us to those happy days

We kickstarted 2004 by winning the McKenna Cup but just a matter of weeks later we lost one of our true greats, Cormac McAnallen. That year football did not seem important.

But 2005 came and so did Armagh. That was a long road but 10 games later we were back again. Back in Croke Park and back in an All Ireland Final. Even better than that, Sam was back in Tyrone.

Again, Tyrone were invincible - or so we thought.

What was to follow was more than two injury-afflicted years of bad luck.

How could one county possibly have been so unlucky? But we were.

Not only that but Tyrone were now without their inspirational captain Peter Canavan and with injuries growing as quickly as the beards today, many thought Tyrone's days were over.

Even in June this year when Tyrone were beaten by Down in the first round of the championship, many turned their back on the team that had brought us so much joy in previous years.

Brian Dooher captained Tyrone in their 2005 All-Ireland triumph

And even worse, some turned their backs on a manager who had brought us to those happy days.

That's the one thing I dislike. People are quick to forget and don't look at the bigger picture.

I remember around that time chatting to a friend from home who turned to me and said: "This year is the year! We're going to do it again".

And do you know what? He just might be right!

When few believed Tyrone would still be in the Championship come September, I am thankful that Mickey and the boys believed.

They believed in themselves when others had given up hope and thanks to them we'll be queuing at the turnstiles in Croke Park once again.

So as Tyrone look at creating another bit of history, when minors and seniors both proudly line out in the county colours, I for one will be in the Lower Hogan even more proudly displaying mine.

I just hope that come 5pm on Sunday, both Tom and Sam, will be adopting the red and white colours and return back home to Tyrone.