Feargal Logan was adamant that Tyrone were good enough to avoid relegation after their 10-point hammering to Mayo last weekend.
While the Red Hands still have some work to do to retain their Division One status, his comments were validated by a brilliant performance in O’Neills Healy Park on Sunday as Tyrone picked up their second victory with a three-point victory over All-Ireland champions Kerry.
It was a remarkable turnaround in just eight days for a team who conceded four goals in Castlebar.
Read more: Recap as Tyrone claim a crucial three-point victory over All-Ireland champions Kerry
It’s often said that Tyrone are at their best when their backs are against the wall and no team responds to criticism like the Red Hands.
"We pride ourselves in Tyrone on resilience. And we asked the boys for resilience, the goal was at the start, the heads could have went down again," said Logan.
"The good old Tyrone resilience, and pride in our county came out and the boys did exactly what was asked of them and more, so we are just delighted.
“County football is a harsh environment. And I tell that to every young lad who comes into it and of course there are harsh conversations every day of the week.
"It’s been a harsh week this week. Not maybe a million miles away from any other week, but we had to pull two points out. We did.
"No more, no less. We need to back it up in Monaghan.”
He asked why do Tyrone react when they’ve something to prove, Logan replied: “It’s hard, hard, hard to say. The bottom line is that we ask for resilience.
“It’s not a pretty place to be when people are cutting off you as a footballer and when you think you are not that far away in a seven game league.
“Maybe it has less to do with Tyrone being in the mire and people tempering their comments a wee bit more appropriately and then it’s not such a crisis situation.
“We are on four points, Kerry are on four points. Maybe it’s not our reaction, but the presentation by others who comment.
“These games week on week are heavy duty. There is a two-week break now which is a help. But listen, there is nothing for nothing in this Division."
He added: "It’s a scrapping match, we are in a scrap and it is an Ulster scrap now.
“And we are going to have to turn up the next day. There is no point doing that and not backing it up.
“All you need to do is go and ask a Dublin supporter about Monaghan in Clones at the dying embers of the league. We will prepare the way we always prepare and we will go at it as hard as we can.”
Kerry manager Jack O’Connor, meanwhile, was disappointed that his side failed to take anything from the game despite being in a strong position midway through the second half.
Sean O’Shea scored a goal inside the opening two minutes, but Shane Ryan’s own goal helped Tyrone level the game at 1-7 each at half-time before Paul Murphy plundered a second goal for the Kingdom.
However, Tyrone outscored Kerry 0-7 to 0-2 in the closing stages, although the Kingdom manager felt referee Martin McNally was harsh on the visitors.
“We’re disappointed. We started well, but the concession of the goal changed the game and gave Tyrone a bit of momentum and belief,” said O’Connor.
“I thought that the fact that we went in at half-time level was going to make the second half tough for us as we were against the wind.
“I was disappointed with the last 20 minutes. We couldn’t seem to buy a free for some reason or another.
“The free count in the second half was 14-3. Either Tyrone are top-class tacklers or we’re bad tacklers. I’m not sure which.”
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