Enda McGinley never believed that Tyrone talisman Peter Harte was ever in danger of missing their All-Ireland quarter-final series opener against Roscommon.
Harte had been facing a one-game suspension for receiving three black cards in 2019.
The black card he received against Longford in the qualifiers was rescinded by the Central Hearings Committee last night.
"I don't think the team would have for one second ever thought that he was missing the game," the McGinley told OTB AM on Friday.
"I think even from the Longford game, there was just an absolute assumption, well that black card will never ever stand. Never mind that one, at that stage, against Donegal and then the one that came against Cavan.
"Everyone assumed that the Longford one was going to be ruled out, they just couldn't appeal it at that time. So there would have been one-hundred percent confidence that Peter Harte would be available."
Peter Harte is vital to Tyrone
The three-time All-Ireland winner with Tyrone believes that Harte is vital to the team anyway but even more so now considering his current form.
"In terms of his importance [to the team], absolutely massive. Teams, especially the likes of Dublin with John Small, have had a habit of being able curtail him.
"When he's curtailed, Tyrone are definitely hampered.
"That was even more so this year whenever so many of Tyrone's other key players, the likes of Mattie Donnelly, the likes of Niall Sludden, the likes of Tiernan McCann, whenever they weren't particularly on form, Petey's form held relatively well through that phase and joined with Cathal McShane to give them some sort of quality when they were struggling this year.
"Some of them other players, the likes of Mattie Donnelly, the likes of Niall Sludden, have really seemed to turn a corner over the last game or two and that's the great benefit of the qualifiers but Petey's form is still absolutely massive.
"He's in a rich, rich vein of form at the minute. His test is being able to continue having a huge influence whenever teams put the clampers on him and I think they'll do that."
Check out the full interview here with Enda McGinley who also explains why he believes that Dean Rock will be starting on the bench for Dublin when they take on Cork.
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