Messages

Lol. I've nothing against Tyrone. I'll be fully cheering them on against Kerry.

But their handling of this particular situation is rotten to the core, especially in the face of being granted a postponement by HQ.

Fair play to Tyrone - this is a carefully constructed and managed campaign. I can't blame them for their approach and given the lack of leadership / backbone in Croke Park in recent years I will be surprised if it's not successful.

The public sidestepping to avoid asking obvious questions on this issue are obvious. For example... how have so many players from one squad been affected if they were following protocols around travel, changing, meetings, etc.

Also, what impact have the post Ulster final celebrations had on these infections?

If I were the GAA I would have wanted full disclosure on all of that before granting the one week postponement and if the answers are what they are rumoured to be then a postponement is astonishing.

If any team has not adhered to the guidance to the best of their ability and brought these cases upon themselves then how is it reasonable to expect games to be postponed when numerous teams have competed without players throughout this and lastt year's championships?

What guidance are you talking about? By all accounts Tyrone have followed the guidance to the letter all year, and didn't return to training until permitted by the GAA, in contrast to at least one but probably more of the teams remaining in the championship.

Regarding any post Ulster final celebrations - if these occurred then it obviously wasn't the wisest course of action but I don't see how they could be held against Tyrone by Croke Park in this instance. The pubs are open, if lads want to go out for a few drinks after winning a provincial championship, who is to stop them if they aren't displaying symptoms, aren't a close contact and haven't tested positive.

[Michael O'Neill did a solid defensive job the last day]

read that when Dooher was asked about fitness of canavan & mcshane that he mentioned johnny munroe is back from injury and it's a big boost, will he get some game time this weekend? feel like him or tee are going to start with the other being an impact sub. either way, mickey o'neills run in the team is done and by god am i glad, offered the bare minimal vs donegal and looked like a lost sheep at times

Jesus people are harsh on players.
Michael O'Neill probably posted a few 6/10 performances over the last few games and if others chomping at the bit to get in his place is probably up for grabs but by no means a lost sheep or not warrant of a place on the panel / field

It's always the way, players get better and better in the eyes of the general public with every game they don't play. Michael O'Neill did a solid defensive job the last day and I'd be surprised if he doesn't start on Saturday.

At the start of the year I was hopeful that Johnny Munroe would make an impact but due to injury he hasn't made a single match panel through the league and championship so far, it seems very unlikely he'll be thrown in for an Ulster final.

Michael O'Neill has been the weakest link in the tyrone team throughout the past couple of years. What Harte saw and what logan&dooher sees in him I will never know. Good club player but by god the man is miles off county level. His positioning is awful and if you went to any of the games you will hear Morgan or Hampsey constantly shouting at him to set up properly. He is a physical specimen but his football IQ is seriously lacking. He doesn't possess any of the traits a good 6 should such as composure, leadership and as previously mentioned a good footballing IQ. Hampsey should be moved back into 6 he has it in his locker and has performed spectacularly at this position before.

Logan and dooher see him every night in training so I'll trust they are a better judge than you of his ability and contribution in comparison to any alternatives. He's actually been given a man marking job this past couple of games so hasn't been asked to play a traditional 6 role.

read that when Dooher was asked about fitness of canavan & mcshane that he mentioned johnny munroe is back from injury and it's a big boost, will he get some game time this weekend? feel like him or tee are going to start with the other being an impact sub. either way, mickey o'neills run in the team is done and by god am i glad, offered the bare minimal vs donegal and looked like a lost sheep at times

Jesus people are harsh on players.
Michael O'Neill probably posted a few 6/10 performances over the last few games and if others chomping at the bit to get in his place is probably up for grabs but by no means a lost sheep or not warrant of a place on the panel / field

It's always the way, players get better and better in the eyes of the general public with every game they don't play. Michael O'Neill did a solid defensive job the last day and I'd be surprised if he doesn't start on Saturday.

At the start of the year I was hopeful that Johnny Munroe would make an impact but due to injury he hasn't made a single match panel through the league and championship so far, it seems very unlikely he'll be thrown in for an Ulster final.

Both midfielders done well yesterday but both were gassed at the time of being replaced.
Being subbed off when your race is ran is no bad thing.

Agreed. Tyrone still missing a solid midfield player to come on and solidify the midfield off the bench. A Decky McClure type of player who can attack and defend and is reliable on the ball

Tyrone are missing many things, but don't think Decky McClure is one of them. Very solid club player but hasn't delivered at county level.

Had a good run with them a while back and managing to squeeze into a starting place in midfield in the very competitive Tyrone squad at the minute. However, I would agree he isnt everybodys cup of tea.

What are you talking about? When did Decky McClure have a good run with Tyrone? No idea what you mean about him managing to squeeze into a starting place.

https://www.gaa.ie/football/football-league-roinn-1/armagh-tyrone/1949703/

Yes the game where he was subbed off before half time and then left the panel a few days later

Both midfielders done well yesterday but both were gassed at the time of being replaced.
Being subbed off when your race is ran is no bad thing.

Agreed. Tyrone still missing a solid midfield player to come on and solidify the midfield off the bench. A Decky McClure type of player who can attack and defend and is reliable on the ball

Tyrone are missing many things, but don't think Decky McClure is one of them. Very solid club player but hasn't delivered at county level.

Had a good run with them a while back and managing to squeeze into a starting place in midfield in the very competitive Tyrone squad at the minute. However, I would agree he isnt everybodys cup of tea.

What are you talking about? When did Decky McClure have a good run with Tyrone? No idea what you mean about him managing to squeeze into a starting place.

Good to have some gaa discussion back on here but amazing how naive and silly some comments are.
Some facts.
We lost again at home to Donegal
We threw away a possible win at home to Monaghan but many big players didn't play well again but no Hampsey now captain and no McShane.
We beat Armagh away by five points and deservedly so.

Three decent competitive games but with little training done I'd not be reading too much into any win or loss.

McKenna's lack of form and the old age problem of midfield is still very evident but you can see the new management team are very much in experimental mode and trying nearly every player they have available to them.
We've stayed in Div 1 though just about and that's maybe down to avoiding Dublin, Kerry and Galway more than anything.

Delighted to see how our forwards are showing some freedom of expression again to shoot and try things that before it seemed almost coached out of them and to play the percentage and don't lose possession game. I have yet to hear the word I hate so much, recycle 😂

I get the feeling B&F had a plan to firstly stay in Div one, try out as many players as possible, keep McShane wrapped up for another month of recovery time rather than exposing him to the likes of Donegal, Monaghan and Armagh before the Ulster championship.

I'd say both managers see Ulster as a very achievable goal this first year and anything after that is a bonus.
Who do Ulster play in the semi this year?

There hasnt actually been much experimentation in terms of personnel. There's a lot of lads on the panel who've had little or no game time. Fair enough from the management to want to go with their strongest hand with very few games before the championship, but what we've seen so far is basically what we have for later in the year, barring a potential McShane return

[Is Kilpatrick still in the squad? Surely worth a run at midfield.]

Big issue for me is how poor mckenna seems to be playing. He seems frustrated and not enjoying his position. Played only a few games last year but made a huge impact while he seems to he struggling so far. Early days yet so hopefully he can turn it around.

Shooting needs worked on, a number if men had a few poor wides. Burns and hampsey come to mind.

McKenna is a huge worry. Seems very frustrated at how little involvement he's had. For me he's not an inside player. I know we are short McShane and need a ball winner inside but it's not McKenna. He should be playing out the field, preferably at 11.

McCurry won a lot of ball in the second half when the supply was right to him. We could do with McNulty or McAliskey in there if they are available.

McClure was another one who had a very poor wide earlier. I'd be very worried if Burns is picked again to start next week. He was poor again yesterday.

Is Kilpatrick still in the squad? Surely worth a run at midfield.

Still in squad. Possibly being held back as the most inexperienced member of the panel probably at moment.

How would he be any more inexperienced than someone who just joined the panel this year?

[more than 2 of McCurry/Bradley/Brennan/McAliskey/Canavan/O'Neill into a team?]

How do you fit more than 2 of McCurry/Bradley/Brennan/McAliskey/Canavan/O'Neill into a team?

You just can't do it in the modern game I'm afraid and that's where Logan and Dooher are going to have a problem. They are not going to keep all them men happy, Harte got blamed for not utilising those players but they are all to similar in style, small, skillful and elusive but they lack the physicality particularly inside. So it basically boils down to who the management rate and I think Dooher and Logan rate Bradley the highest out of that lot. Harte generally preferred McCurry and McAliskey.

McShane is the key though, he gives us something different inside and hopefully he can return quickly and to his 2019 form. We really lack an alternative there.

I would have to say things aren't looking good for McNulty if he wasn't making the squad at the weekend and was fit. He is the most obvious replacement for McShane and we had McKenna and R Donnelly playing inside on Saturday despite neither of them being inside forwards.

I've yet to see anyone asking for this. The issue some people have raised (and I'm certainly not being critical after one game but we're allowed to discuss these things) is that Saturday's team included McGeary, Meyler and Richie Donnelly in the forward line, none of whom are natural forwards. When you add to this a midfield of Kennedy and Burns, with Cassidy and O'Neill as your wing backs, that is a fairly defensive team. A lot of people would like to see at least one and possibly two of the guys you mention on from the start and I think it's quite possible we'll get that this weekend.

Meyler scored a point on Saturday, had another ruled out after it was called back for a free that was then pointed by Donaghy.

He contributed that while doing a great job on Ryan McHugh.

McGeary broke up a serious amount of play in the middle of the pitch and was linking our attacks extremely well and also scored a good point in the first half.

It's clear some people obviously never kicked a ball in their lives.

McGeary and Meyler were easily two of our best players Saturday so it's bizarre to single them out for criticism.

Managers love McGeary because of the intensity he brings. It's a throwback to the teams of the noughties the way he is able to close the space and make contact. These are great qualities and he can also take a score, and he's just been appointed vice captain so Logan and Dooher clearly rate him highly. However he does consistently give away cheap free kicks and pick up bookings - there's no point in him looking to the ref in frustration every time this happens, he needs to clean up his tackling style or at least stop giving away frees in the scoring zone.

Meyler is by all accounts the fittest player in the panel and has proven himself over the past few years to be our go to man marker for the opposition's danger man in the middle third. He's done effective jobs on the likes of McHugh, Fenton and Sean O'Shea.

So I do think both lads are good players and worthy of a place in the team but don't think both offer enough of a scoring threat to take up two forward positions. One should be named at wing back and one as wing forward. That then leaves us with 5 positions to fill with out and out forwards who can contribute on the scoreboard while also working back when required.

Looks like will start
Feb - regional national league
April championship (straight KO)
All over July

Very difficult task for whoever new manger is.
Hard to get set up / tactics etc in place - especially under Covid restrictions
He would need at least a years grace - from supporters to get up and running

There is due to be a back door next year. Super 8s are out though

Cavanagh with a poor tribute to Harte on the Sunday Game last night. Lucky to inherit those minor teams? Wise up Sean.

Cavanagh really is letting himself down a bagful on a consistent basis ever since he's retired from county football. Has there ever been a player in the GAA that's went down so much in the estimations of their own county's supporters after retiring from playing?

[Love to know what caused them to be brought in.]

When you think back, those two frees that's mcquillan brought forward made the difference in the end. Two very difficult kicks were made into certainties. Love to know what caused them to be brought in.

I'd also agree with the point re Liam Rafferty. He's almost too good a footballer to be stuck in corner back.

The one in the first half was a ridiculous call. Mattie Donnelly was standing beside Eoin McHugh, and was calling Tiernan McCann back to mark McHugh so that Mattie could go over and mark Murphy. While he was waiting for McCann to get back, Donnelly had his hand on McHughs arm. It wasn't clear from the camera picture but I presume Mattie had a hold of his jersey and that's what the free was brought in for but McHugh was standing there stationary, with no intention of moving for the ball. So to be punished for that in an Ulster Championship match at such a crucial time was a joke of a decision from McQuillan

The one in the second half seemed to be verbals, but it was a long time after the whistle was blown so I thought one of the tyrone players must have been saying something to Thompson as he was lining up the kick. If that was the case then there's no excuse for that I'm afraid

The squad for next year should see a fairly comprehensive overhaul though whoever is manager. I think part of the reason I'd like to see a fresh voice in is for that purpose.

These are the players I think should be around for next year:

GK:
Morgan
Gallen

Defenders:
Brennan
McNamee
Rafferty
McCann
Hampsey
Cassidy
M O'Neill
McKernan
K McGeary
F Burns
HP McGeary
Kelly
Grimes
Quinn
Murnaghan

Midfield:
Kennedy
R Donnelly
Kilpatrick

Forwards:
M Donnelly
McKenna
McCurry
Bradley
Canavan
McShane
Meyler
Sludden


That's about 28 players so you have the potential to add 10 or so new faces in there. I think in terms of defensive talent in the country we probably have more or less the best available to us on the panel at present, possibly a few new additions if some of those guys aren't available or moved on.

In terms of midfield, we're now short, it's an area we need to improve on. I'd defintitely hop we can get McNulty back in there and I also like Nugent from Galbally and think he could be given a go during the McKenna Cup.

With the attackers, there is loads of talent not available for whatever reason this year. It's time to give new some new blood a go here, plenty of talent on the u20 squad this year. The likes of McAliskey and Brennan should be tried to commit again, Donaghy should be a certain call up and a few others too. You look at us playing guys like Meyler, McGeary and Burns as wing forwards  - they don't score enough and when you contrast with teams like Mayo, Donegal and Kerry who get big scoring returns from these areas it's something we really need to improve on but looking at the club scene - we don't really seem to have too many natural scoring half forwards do we?

Donnelly plays best when he is given a free role in the middle of the pitch and I think Harte is probably best utilised as a ball winning inside forward from now on.

Hopefully for whoever is in charge going forward, a fully fit squad will allow the likes of McKenna, Harte, Donnelly, McShane and one of Canavan/Bradley/McCurry etc to operate in that final third of the pitch. The bottom line is when you're against the big sides you are probably going to need a dog in there like Meyler or McGeary to take an opposition player out of the game - a lot of the other counties play with one but that's not to say that we don't need a much bigger return from whoever is chosen to do that job at the other end of the pitch. Meyler and McGeary really need to start contributing on the scoreboard if they are to justify their selection.

I think Donaghy will be worth a call up but it will take him two or three years to develop and play at the highest level against the likes of dubs/kerry/mayo etc. People saying he should have been on the team for the donegal game is madness in my view, massive difference between scoring from play in a club game and a county game, and i can't see him being given the free kick duties, so his scoring capacity will be massively reduced. However, with that said, give the lad two years of development with the squad and he could/will become a great outlet.

I think the list included is fair but I would include Kerr from Galbally as a player to retain, he's intelligent, skillful and accurate. I'm not too sure why he isn't closer to the starting team but obviously there is a reason for it, would definitely have him on ahead of Mulgrew anyway.

I think the players that deserve a Mckenna Cup campaign are Donaghy (Dungannon), Teague (Dromore), Mallon (Dungannon), Quinn (Coalisland), Kilpatrick (Pomeroy), Leonard (Coalisland), Herron (Coalisland), Sheilds (Clogher) and then Breenan and McAliskey to return. Just an opinion and im sure ive forgotten a few

I would love to see the team cleared and everyone having to trial again and see what panel they end up with. This would obviously never happen but it would certainly be interesting as Harte is renowned for not dropping players.

Mark McKearney deserves a shot too. Although if we want to move to a move expansive gameplan without defensive half forwards then I'm not sure he fits in.

The two key priorities for next year are 1) identifying one or two extra quality man markers and 2) finding someone can partner Brian Kennedy at midfield.

If we can find another couple of quality defenders who we can trust to leave in a one on one battle, then we can fully push up on the opposition and leave our forwards in place. I really think the lack of these players has contributed to our defensive tactics in recent years. But at the same time, players don't develop these skills when they constantly have the protection of a sweeper or mass defence.

In the current squad I would class McNamee as one of these players but after that we're struggling. Possibly Rory Brennan but I feel as if he is more comfortable tagging someone out the field. Hampsey obviously won an all star at corner back in 2018 but he's barely played the position since and has been plagued with injuries. I think Liam Rafferty has some developing to do as a corner back as well.

After that we have Conor Quinn on the panel who I like the look of and who did well on Mattie Donnelly in the club championship. And Conall Grimes. As far as potential call ups go, Peter Teague and Conor Shields are worth a try.

Looking forward to Sunday. Would read nothing into the league game as Tyrone didn't seem to invest too much in the game. It will be a massive task on Sunday though and Donegal will rightfully fancy their chances. The unavailability of so many players is effecting the strength and depth of the team and would have liked another forward option or two on the bench.

I see in papers Richie Donnelly has been back training. If he's fit he will start and this time of year probably suits him, as well as giving a bit more physicality around the middle sector which we lacked massively in the league game. Meyler seemed to play a more attacking role last week and was poor, if he's on it'll have to be in a more defensive role. Our options at the back are a limited given the likely unavailability of Brennan, Hampsey, Cassidy etc.

You could actually make a case for playing McRory (as popular as that would be) who again should suit the time of year and is more of an out and out marker than some of the players in defence. It's a toss up between him and Hugh Pat for me. It's hard to know what to do with Sludden. There is potential in him but hasn't delivered in the last few years. I don't think he's an 11 - so either an option as a half forward or half back. Liam Rafferty seems better on the front foot than back foot so I'd have him in half back line. I'd go with something like this (assuming boys above unavailable):

Morgan
Hugh Pat
McNamee
McKernan
McCann
Burns
Rafferty
Kennedy
Mattie
Sludden
R Donnelly
McGeary
Harte
McKenna
Canavan

McCurry to hopefully provide some kind of impact of the bench. Tyrone being given very little chance in the media which probably suits us alright. I certainly wouldn't right the team off.

There's no way I'd have Sludden starting ahead of McCurry, and I'd be surprised if Richie Donnelly starts having not played at all in the two league games.  Meyler also seems to be one of the first names on the team sheet, when he's fit he always plays.

Tyrone will do well to get within 5 points of Donegal. Donegal have a potent and very mobile front 6 and half of Tyrone's defenders cannot tackle.

100% right ,  the Pomeroy boyos in patricular

This is definitely the case with Kieran McGeary. I think he brings a lot to the team in terms of intensity, leadership and when he's playing well he's great at driving forward from half back, so I would definitely have him in the starting team. But he plays on the edge and is so reckless in the tackle and as a result gives away a lot of scorable frees which is so frustrating