Kickouts key in Tyrone v Dublin quarter-final - Devlin
Devlin believes Tyrone's Niall Morgan and Dublin's Stephen Cluxton will have big roles to play with their kickouts on Saturday
- Published
Tyrone All-Ireland winning defender Gavin Devlin believes kick-outs will be important in the Red Hands' All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin.
Malachy O'Rourke's side have had the benefit of a week off after topping their group, whilst Dublin had to overcome Cork in their preliminary quarter-final.
Devlin, who worked with Micky Harte at Tyrone, Derry and Louth, acknowledges the last eight tie is a tough one to call, but he backs the Red Hands to edge past the Dubs - if they can get the kick-out right.
"It's the mouthwatering game that stood out from the off and it's two teams who will think they have a chance," he told BBC Sport NI.
"Kick-outs now are monumental and it's a platform to build from. A lot on Saturday will come down to kick-outs, it's who can control their own kick-out and get their hands on the ball and who can get after the other kick-out and steal possession.
"Whoever does that will win the game."
Devlin, who won the Sam Maguire in 2003 and 2005, thinks that Dublin will be a much bigger threat if captain Con O'Callaghan is fit to feature after he missed the win over Cork.
"There's a lot made about Con last week and if he was available or not, we are not privy to the inside, maybe Con just was not available but if he was available and Dessie [O'Farrell] just decided not to put him in it was a gamble that paid off now he has the benefit of an extra week," he added.
"Everyone knows how important he is and Dublin still have those household names and characters that can turn the game. They're not the giants they once were but they still have transitional moments where they break forward and every pass is forward, and they have the know-how.
"Tyrone will be under no illusions of what they have to do to shut it down."
Devlin, who now manages Derry club Magherafelt, also praised Tyrone's steady improvement under O'Rourke and hopes they are starting to peak at the right time.
"I've been really impressed by Tyrone although they got relegated in the National League, they left a lot of points behind but against Armagh they showed serious resilience and to top the group the way they did, with that win in Ballybofey against Donegal, it shows serious belief is with Tyrone."