THE trip to Castlebar's Breaffy House Hotel back in March was always going to be interesting, not least because it was designed to welcome Bernard Dunne back to the professional boxing ranks.

Just the previous August, Dunne's world had collapsed when the Spaniard Kiko Martinez hit him with an unmerciful onslaught at the Point Theatre in their European title fight.

Within less than a minute and half, 86 seconds to be precise, Dunne surrendered his coveted belt to a Spanish cyclone as the packed Dublin arena fell silent in shock.

It was an incredible night, one which served evidence of sport's ability to spring a surprise even at the highest level.

Dunne's head stayed down on the canvas for the count that night and it remained out of public view for several months afterwards.

The press conference last March to announce his comeback was the first real chance to sit down with Bernard and discuss where it all went wrong and he planned to make it all right again.

That explains why more than the usual collection of curious journalists descended on the popular Mayo venue that day for the chance to spar verbally with Neilstown's finest professional fighter -- Kenny Egan now owns the "amateur" title post-Beijing.

There was a surprise in store that Tuesday afternoon as well when the Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte appeared at the top table alongside boxing wannabe Damien Taggart, a lifelong pal of his son Michael.

Harte was there as Taggart's spiritual guidance counselor, if you like, as he set out on the first steps in the tough world of professional boxing.

Not one to classify himself as a boxing trainer, Harte's aim was only to provide psychological help to a young man who had wandered in and out of the family kitchen for as many years as both men could remember.

Talking to Harte about Taggart's boxing dreams that day was a fascinating experience. He quoted great American coaches like George Karls and John Wooten, and motivational speakers like Anthony Robbins, and how they could all help Taggart or any sportsman or women realize their dream.

And it was clear from listening to him for just half an hour that Harte has that something special that sets leaders aside from mere mortals.

Events this weekend proved that once again, but it was interesting after Sunday's All-Ireland final win over Kerry to have a look back at Harte's comments down in Mayo, something to share with you now.

Talking about his role with young Taggart, Harte explained, "I am not a professional psychologist or anything, but I have years of experience of dealing with people in a sporting context, dealing with pressure situations, and if I can share some of those insights with Damien they might be useful along the way.

"Winning is winning no matter what the sport is. The preparation is the same. As you prepare so you perform so if the preparation is right then he has a chance. We know what good preparation is and we know it is not just about the physical side of things.

"It is about preparing mentally, the proper rest, nutrition and the proper inspirational research, reading material and stuff like that and listening to people who have some little nuggets of information that are useful in any context.

"Even though I am working with a GAA squad as a panel I have to work with them individually so this has to help. In boxing it is just one person and they are solely in charge of their own game whereas at least with a team game somebody can bail you out for five minutes.

"In boxing you stand or fall by your own volition so that is the big difference but you still have to prepare Gaelic football athletes as individuals and that's the way the game is moving.

"It is not just about the team, the individuals need to be addressed and this boxing experience is giving me a good insight into that. I do think it is good to be involved in other sports and to learn from each other. If you have an open mind for that there is always something useful there you know."

Now there is nothing to suggest that Harte's brief flirtation with boxing had anything to do with Sunday's dramatic and fully deserved win over the Kingdom.

In fact Taggart's introduction to professional boxing didn't match his expectations and it is doubtful he will fight again, even with Harte in his camp, but that's not the point here.

What's interesting is Mickey Harte was prepared to offer his help to a young man starting out on a chosen path, just as he has helped Tyrone footballers realize their dreams for the past decade and more.

In Taggart's case he hasn't succeeded, not yet anyway, but no one can doubt his ability as one of the top GAA coaches of his generation.

On Sunday the current crop of Tyrone footballers lifted the third Sam Maguire of Harte's reign in possibly the most trying circumstances yet.

When they lost to Down in Newry's Marshes back in the rain filled summer there were many calling for Harte's head in Ulster, never mind within Tyrone itself.

The great man resisted the call for change and so, thankfully, did his county board at a time when many others would have panicked.

On Sunday the reward for their faith was a faultless tactical effort from Harte as he took on the might of the Kingdom and made a mockery of their three in-a-row title hopes.

It was nowhere near as clear-cut as Kilkenny's win over Waterford in the All-Ireland hurling final, but that is irrelevant right now.

Harte's triumph was every bit as clinical, every bit as mechanical as the Brian Cody manufactured win for Kilkenny in the hurling equivalent.

Those two are the best football and hurling managers respectively in the country right now, if the results of the recent All-Ireland finals are anything to go by.

And you know something? Having watched in awe as Cody and Harte triumphed on two September Sundays, it is hard to argue with the theory that the identity of the current All-Ireland champions mirrors the abilities of their respective managers.

One of them will probably triumph as manager of the year at the annual Philips Sports Awards in December, but I wouldn't like to bet on either of them right now.

Declan Kidney, Heineken Cup winner with Munster, and Billy Walsh, coach to Ireland's Olympic boxing heroes, may have something to say about that as well.

But right now it is hard to argue that Cody and Harte are two men at the very top of their game -- and very hard to separate them.

Maybe we could borrow some of Damien Taggart's gloves and throw them into a boxing ring -- now what a tactical fight that would be!

Hero Of the Week

SEAN Cavanagh won the man of the match award and captain Brian Dooher was singled out for special mention by manager Mickey Harte, but for many corner-back Ryan McMenamin was the heart of all that was good about Tyrone's All-Ireland final win over Kerry. Where McMenamin got the energy from is anyone's guess.

Idiot Of the Week

NICK Faldo managed to put the 'I' into team at the Ryder Cup in Valhalla, every second sentence out of his lousy mouth seeming to contain a reference to his own efforts. America was missing the greatest player of the modern game in Tiger Woods but still played like a team. Europe looked like a collection of individuals playing under the biggest ego in golf and lost. Not surprisingly.

Sideline Views

SOCCER: Anyone who watched Manchester United put some life back into their title challenge in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday will know that Blues 'keeper Petr Cech made a mess of Ji Sung Park's goal for United. Cech just hasn't been the same 'keeper since he ran into Stephen Hunt a few years back, so maybe it's time Chelsea bought a new goalie like Shay Given for example!

SOCCER: Gordon Strachan maintains there is no rift with Aiden McGeady after leaving the Irish winger out of his Champions League side last midweek, but any problem between the Celtic manager and one of his star players is not good news for Ireland's World Cup hopes. Let's hope there is no rift.

SOCCER: There is talk at home that Sunderland's Andy Reid will be asked to play in a B international next month ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus. Such a scenario would be nothing short of an insult to the Dubliner and should be treated with contempt by Reid.