The meaning of it had yet to be confirmed, but Declan Bonner still had to take a question about Tyrone.
By Chris McNulty at Dr Hyde Park
His answer, just in case, was measured.
You may find the message to his players will have been rather more biting.
After a seven-point win over Roscommon on Saturday, Bonner was holding court with the media just as Tyrone-Dublin was throwing in at Healy Park.
A Tyrone win there would’ve rendered their meeting with Donegal as little more than a footnote in 2018.
As it turned out, though, James McCarthy’s goal and a Dublin win sets up the biggest ever game that Sean MacCumhaill Park has ever – and perhaps will ever – stage.
Donegal v Tyrone with an All-Ireland semi-final place on the line.
“Tyrone are the form team through the qualifiers,” Bonner mentioned before that seismic showdown had been set-up.
“They got a fright in their first qualifier up in Navan with Meath, but they’ve been very impressive since that and putting up big scores.”
Bonner, whose side put up another big score – 20 points – in Roscommon says Tyrone’s sometimes-decried system should actually be lauded. Mickey Harte, their manager, has shipped a fair amount of criticism, but Bonner isn’t one who buys into that notion.
He said: “They play to a system. People criticised Mickey last season. They had a very good year and now, all of a sudden, people say it’s negative. It’s not. They attack in numbers and they defend in numbers.
“It’s difficult to play against and they have gathered momentum. They’re a very difficult opponent.”
While the rest of the land debates, Bonner can be thankful that he has Michael Murphy at all, never mind the conundrum of where best to station the Glenswilly man.
Nine points from the Donegal captain reignited the age-old debate of his positioning.
“Murphy can play anywhere,” Bonner shrugged.
“That’s the bottom line. I’d rather look at the whole team, the whole group and Michael is part of that. He did really well out there. Wherever Michael goes, he’ll perform. He’ll always contribute.
“You take every game on its merit. You have you get your hand on ball in that middle third before you do anything with Michael at full-forward. Michael is that crucial to the team. We know that if we’re going to come out on top in midfield, then we’ll get Michael inside.”
Bonner could be content with how his team shaped up in Dr Hyde Park to claim a 0-20 to 0-13 win.
“Any day you get a victory like that on the road, it’s a good day,” he said.
“We kicked 20 points and we played well.
“We were a wee bit disjointed in the second half in terms of controlling the game. We’re quite happy with how the lads applied themselves.
“Hyde Park, down through the years, has always been a difficult place to get a result. The lads went about their business really well and in a professional manner.”
Now, then, Tyrone.
“They’re on the radar for the next two weeks,” Bonner nodded.
And off he went into the night, the Red Hands all that was on his mind.
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