All-Ireland MFC final focus

Niall McKenna says his father will not be giving him much advice

Niall McKenna's superb display for Tyrone minors against Meath last month could only but rekindle memories of imperious football served up by his father Eugene during the 1980s.

The young McKenna produced an immense display in the crucial middle third of the field for the Reds Hands as they qualified for Sunday's All-Ireland decider against Mayo.

Into the bargain, he kicked three points as Tyrone claimed a 1-21 to 2-7 success over the Royal County.

The Donaghmore club-man has become used to the comparisons with his father.

"I've heard it all the way through my football career. It's no bother to me," says Niall, who is happy to expound at length - which wasn't always the case during his father's media dealings.

McKenna Senior invariably led by example during his glory days and inevitably, Niall is one of the leaders in Raymond Munroe's squad.

"You try to give encouragement to the other fellows in the team," says Niall, matter-of-factly.

"You're helping people to get through the pain barrier so that the team gets the victory.

"Thankfully, on this team there are a lot of leaders and it's a case of everybody digging in together and helping each other out."

Raymond Munroe has a lot of respect for the Mayo line-up

McKenna acknowledges that he will be asking his father for advice about how to handle Sunday's big occasion - although he doesn't expect a long answer.

"He usually just makes fun of it. All he says is 'catch high and kick long'.

"He'll give me a bit of advice but the bottom line is that it will not be up to him on the day."

McKenna has a refreshingly grounded response when it is put to him that Sunday's match will be the most important occasion of his life so far.

"I don't know about that. Of course, it will be the biggest match I've played in so far.

"It's an All-Ireland minor final and since you were young, you want to play minors and then hopefully move up.

"It's a big match and a lot of great players have played in All-Ireland minor finals but you take it as it comes."

Tyrone manager Munroe acknowledges that the county's qualification for Sunday's senior decider against Kerry has "probably" helped to take some of the pressure off his young charges.

"We have to be thankful for that but at the end of the day, we just have to totally focus on the match in the early part of the day," Munroe told BBC Sport.

I basically know nothing else. I love the sport Tyrone manager Raymond Munroe

Munroe's side wracked up and impressive 1-21 against Meath but he reminds that Mayo claimed a 10-point victory over Kerry in the semi-finals.

"Any team that can do that is obviously a classy outfit.

"A lot of things went well for us against Meath but that performance was all about the 31st of August - not the 21st of September.

"And obviously the fellows have put pressure on themselves after their performance against Meath and they are going to be marked men on Sunday."

Munroe acknowledges that he and his management colleagues have been at pains to try and ensure that the players don't let the big occasion affect their focus.

"We have highlighted the traps and holes that we can fall into but the bottom line is that you won't know how successful we have been until we see the action on Sunday."

The Tyrone manager is an unassuming sort but he acknowledges that Sunday will be a big occasion in his football-dominated life.

"I've put an awful lot of time into my playing career and the management career. I basically know nothing else. I love the sport."