Colm Cooper: Omagh win can ignite Tyrone's season

Colm Cooper was impressed by Tyrone's evident desire in their three point win over Kerry and suggests they were stung into action by the criticism meted following their away defeats to Galway and Mayo in recent weeks.

The 2021 All-Ireland champions climbed out of the relegation zone after a three-point win over their old foes in Omagh, veteran attacker Mattie Donnelly the star man with a three point haul.

In the wake of their abject All-Ireland title defence, and a faltering start to the 2023 league, Tyrone drop-off in form had been the subject of widespread bafflement, but Cooper suggested it was type of display that could "ignite their season."

"I think maybe the sight of the Kerry jersey coming to Omagh inspired them a little bit," the four-time All-Ireland winner said on Allianz League Sunday.

"It was a good, very strong performance. I think they were stung by the criticism, particularly over the last week. They were called into question, in terms of the hunger and the desire and whether it was still there.

"They didn't become a bad team overnight. But we were just waiting for a reaction and today we saw a much more committed and spirited effort.

"It was something that was missing for the last while. I'm sure Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher were scratching their heads, saying 'what has gone wrong.' But a performance like that can get them back on track. Something like that can ignite their season.

"I think they added more variety to their play, they switched it up, they looked inside. Darren McCurry was a threat inside all day. It's a start, they still have a way to go to go. But there was huge pressure on them today and they responded."

For Jack O'Connor's side, it's a third league defeat on the road, though Ciaran Whelan