Tyrone and Wexford will not have the stage all to themselves this weekend. The Red Hands and Jason Ryan’s rejuvenated side will clash in their All Ireland semi-final at Croke Park where they will share the limelight with Kerry and Cork who will be meeting for the third time in a matter of weeks.

And while Cork’s stunning recovery last Sunday has led to speculation that Kerry could yet be denied the opportunity to reach another final, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is much too shrewd to be deflected from his own team’s important assignment.

In humiliating Dublin on Saturday week last, Tyrone put down a marker that they are serious contenders for the All Ireland title.

But even in the immediate aftermath of his side’s runaway win, Mickey was making the point that they would need to step up further on their performance if they are to overcome Wexford.

I can see where Mickey is coming from. His side hit three goals against the Dubs, their attacking strategy worked well throughout and several of their opponents played well below their best form.

Mickey and his captain Brian Dooher have made it clear that they don’t expect to enjoy such a comfortable passage again - and that’s why they will have their guard up for Sunday.

Tyrone play with great intensity and nobody personifies this more than Dooher himself who seemed to cover every square metre of Croke Park in that win over the Dubs.

For a player who has endured so much heartbreak because of injury, Dooher certainly is a fine example to all young players and he is indeed an inspirational captain.

Both he and Mickey are aware that this match against Wexford represents the biggest potential banana skin that their team has encountered this year to date.

Recent tradition, experience, teamwork and craft suggest that the Red Hands should make it into the final.

But then how many matches have cocked a snook at the form book this year so far?

Tyrone themselves learned a sobering lesson against Down but that lesson has actually since stood them in good stead.

They are much more focussed, very well drilled and appear to have useful resources on their bench.

That’s not a bad arsenal to take into an All Ireland semi-final against a Wexford side that proved too smart for Armagh but are conscious that the Red Hands will provide them with a different kind of test altogether.

Tyrone appear to have become more energised and much more cohesive as the season has progressed and the indications are that they will seek to start on Sunday where they left off against the Dubs.

They have a raft of experienced

players in their side - players who are well accustomed to big-match occasions in Croke Park and know how to cope with the attendant pressures.

They have shown themselves to be extremely resiliant and well able to counter-attack with devastating effect.

Wexford have underlined they have not suffered any serious ill-effects following that taming by the Dubs and manager Ryan will surely be paying great attention to his tactical blueprint this week in the build-up to the game.

I believe that Wexford are a better side than many people give them credit for.

They are regarded as one dimensional in that Mattie Forde is perceived as their only threat but that’s not quite the case.

Players like Redmond Barry, Ciaran Lyng, P J Banville, Brendan Doyle and Philip Wallace have been round a few corners and they won’t be fazed by Sunday’s test.

Besides, they have been to Croke Park a few times already this year so they won’t be in the least out of their depth.

Obviously Forde in particular is a very seasoned, cultured player yet he only came into his own in the closing stages against Armagh and did not appear to like the tight marking to which he was subjected earlier in that game.

Tyrone, to my mind, have the defensive nous to cope but they will certainly be well advised to keep their concentration levels high.

Wexford have shown a capacity to catch teams on the break and they will relish the challenge of capturing what for them would a third Ulster scalp.

There is a massive incentive for Tyrone to reach the final.

They felt they had a big point to make after losing out in Ulster and the prospect of meeting either Kerry or Cork in the decider next month should in itself be sufficient to see Mickey Harte’s men rise to the occasion on Sunday.