Former Mayo footballer Austin O'Malley believes goalkeeper Niall Morgan was key to Tyrone's All-Ireland final victory over Mayo on Saturday.
Tyrone secured their first Sam Maguire since 2008, defeating James Horan's side 2-14 to 0-15 in Croke Park, securing the title in Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher's first season in charge as joint managers.
The Ulster champions looked much the better side throughout the 70 minutes on Saturday, with goalkeeper Niall Morgan having a massive influence on proceedings with his kick-outs and ability to set up attacks for his side.
Speaking to Off the Ball on Sunday, O'Malley outlined that he believes Morgan's performance was majestic at times, and that the keeper had his fingerprints on everything positive from a Tyrone perspective.
"Aw he was majestic at times," O'Malley began. "Going in at half-time I turned to someone beside me and I said 'this guy is quarterbacking everything, his fingerprints are on literally everything Tyrone has done.
"From his kicking off the tee, to what he scored but also his ability to play that kind of plus one from the back. He was coming out with the ball and Tyrone I thought were really really smart in what they did.
"They sat very wide and created a central opening channel and he punched through it, drew a defender and released a Tyrone man and they took scores off the end of it. In the totality of the game he had fingerprints on everything, he was so assured, he was so composed."
🗣 It was an exhibition over the 70 minutes' | #GAA
🗣 'This guy is quarterbacking everything' | 🏐
Austin O'Malley feels that Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan was a huge reason for their All Ireland final victory over Mayo on Saturday ⬇️
FULL VIDEO ➡️ https://t.co/wEzt5DnkQS pic.twitter.com/Rzw8rA3jw8— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 12, 2021
O'Malley continued, noting that he felt Morgan could be exposed heading into the game, but admitted that it was an 'exhibition' from the keeper over the course of the All-Ireland final.
"I certainly would have felt that going into the game it was an area Mayo could have gone after, that they could have tried to push on and crack him because I thought there was maybe frailties in his game from what we've seen but he was a colossus back there, he kept the whole thing going and ticking over for Tyrone.
"His level of composure, ability to find people and his calmness on the ball, it was an exhibition over the 70 minutes."
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