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@ Omagh Geal

Team to face Fermanagh is as follows: D Mc Anenly, B Tierney, D Mc Nally, HP Mc Geary, N Sludden, S Warnock, T Mc Cann, H Og Conlon, C Clarke, S Tierney, T Canavan, B Mc Garvey, D Mc Curry, C Mc Aliskey, R O'Neill (captain).

Hopefully SON isnt risked this weekend, the last thing the lad needs is another set back. Id rest the hamstring for a few weeks yet - no point taking unnecessary risks with him. League promotion can be achieved without SON.
If the forwards are struggling during the course of the game, we would still have serious options like Mathew Donnelly, Jonny Lafferty & Sean Cavanagh.

Delighted Kyle Coney has got an opportunity. He has the natural talent to be one of the best forwards in the country - he just has to harness it... that ability in that split second to know wether to shoot or go for the killer pass OR when to hold possession and play it simple. He has everything else in his locker. Last time I saw him play was in Omagh in last years Championship 1/4 Final, Vs Dromore. He put in a real tour de force that night. Power, Pace, Direct, Accurate, - unplayable.

Suprised Paddy McNiece got the nod ahead of Lafferty, Ronan O'Neill, & Peter Hughes. He has never impressed me at all McNiece any time i've seen him play. He must have shown something to Mickey in training. Hopefully I am posting on Sunday evening that he had a good game & becomes another viable option for the summer.

Hopefully we can make it 8 outta 8 on Sunday.

@ O'Neill - I would agree about your comments regarding the defense. There's always a reassuring feeling when you look at the teamsheet & see the two McMahons in it!

Plus with Conor Gormley to come back in, there should be a different look about it as the year progresses.

Still think that the defense should perform well this Sunday against a derry attack missing Eoin Brads, James Kielt & Enda Muldoon.

Harte is clearly reshaping the structure & shape of the team at the moment. I am having difficulty defining exactly what it is - but what is very noticeable is that the half forwards & half backs seem to have their traditional roles reversed as regards defence & attack.

Harte, McCaul & McCarron will again be the driving force in most attacks, they each possess great speed & ball carrying ability. Last Saturday night, young forward Mattie Donnelly alluded in an interview with teamtalkmag.com that he was given a different role - playing in the half back line. McNabb will in all likelihood have a similar role this sunday. Possibly Penrose too.

Petey Harte is still the play maker & has become Tyrone's most important player. I feel the new 'system' has been designed partly to get the most out of Harte & get him on the ball as often as possible, in as much space as possible. His accurate kick passes & surging runs have been a key feature of Tyrone's play in 2012.

Hopefully i'll understand the system better after sunday. Clarke Vs Paddy Brads will be an interesting battle.

Interestingly RTE predict a victory for 2/1 shot's Doire on Sunday. http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2012/0210/tyrone_derry.html

I wonder will Diarmuid Ó Sé (Kerry county board cultural officer & a selector with Dromid Pearses) be as quick to make a statement to the press today? 

""There were inadequate stewards at the ground, people were able to get onto the pitch and throw punches at our players. Declan O'Sullivan got struck by a handbag and was struck by a Derrytresk supporter as well. That was seen by a steward and the Garda have it documented. But it's not good enough and I cannot understand how the GAA can allow this to happen. The GAA have video evidence available and maybe its time to use it"

Monday, January 23, 2012

That photograph does nothing to cast doubt on the credibility of the above.

- your right it doesnt. Thats not my point. If dromid / kerry were so quick to run to the press then about this very incident, then they should also be available & make comment now. i.e he should also impicate / condemn his own player, when he was so quick off the mark to condemn others
Also - is it fair to lambast the GAA itself, the stewarding arrangements, the opposing players / fans - and not mention the fact that your own star player busted some young lad?

I wonder will Diarmuid Ó Sé (Kerry county board cultural officer & a selector with Dromid Pearses) be as quick to make a statement to the press today? 

""There were inadequate stewards at the ground, people were able to get onto the pitch and throw punches at our players. Declan O'Sullivan got struck by a handbag and was struck by a Derrytresk supporter as well. That was seen by a steward and the Garda have it documented. But it's not good enough and I cannot understand how the GAA can allow this to happen. The GAA have video evidence available and maybe its time to use it"

Monday, January 23, 2012

Considering the referee is approx 7 or 8 meters from the incident surely he would seen the incident & noted it in his report? O'Sullivan surely looking at a 6-8 week suspension here.

This whole saga stinks of double standards, and no doubt O'Sullivan will not even be summoned to explain his actions.

Leo - he played full back right the way through the 2010 AI minor winning team.

Suprising didnt make the 2011 under 21 panel (same manager as 2010 minors Ray Munroe)

Team selection will be very interesting & Thursday night will tell a tale...

Goalkeeper - will be rotated, Devine In.

Defence - On the plus side Joe McMahon & Dermy Carlin will be available again for selection. Think Justy is injured again (unconfirmed) , as is Conor Clarke who pulled the hamstring on Saturday night (confirmed). Clarke was unavailble for Omagh U21's on Sunday & likely to miss out next sunday as well. Damian McCaul pushing hard for a chance now. Ricey will be hoping to see game time also.

Midfield - I rate big Cassidy highly, and he took one for the team on Saturday night. No where near fit enough to participate (following another injury setback) but he made himself available for selection under the circumstances and emptied the tank. Michael Murphy's star didnt shine as brightly last time out. Jury still out IMO. Perhaps we could see Joe McMahon line out here again? He was very effective there in the McKenna final.

Forwards - Peter Hughe's position you would feel would be under serious threat. The other 5 positions i feel pick themselves now. Harte wont t**ker with a winning formulae here. I think Tommy McGuigan is available again, plus Big Sean will likely get another 10 mins towards the end to continue his rehabilitation. As I alluded to before, I would like to see Kyle Coney given an opportunity. McNiece, Gervin etc didnt really grab the bull by the horns in the McKenna cup but Coney hasnt even had a decent opportunity this year to date. Also - what of Lafferty? Seems like a long time ago now that he impressed against QUB. Seems to be slipping down the pecking order.

Regardless of team selection - Derry will be well up for this one. They need the points, and they are getting slated by their own at the minute. Expect a backlash in the shape of a negative, bitter ugly battle, heavy narrow pitch, pulling & dragging match just - which will level it up immensely. There wont be more than a couple of points in it at the end. Discipline is crucial, however hopefully Tyrone's superior class will shine out.

I also thought Damien McCaul didnt get the recognition he deserved by the media or on here (until rrhf pointed him out). Looked very solid in defense & purposeful going forward too. Stem'd the tide well. Think he could benefit from a spell in the half back line similar to Gorgeous.

Midfield struggled badly and would be a big concern. I appreciate Cassidy isnt at all near fit. Murphy didnt hit the heights of the McKenna cup final & a question mark would still hang over him IMO.

When I heard we were throwing a 19 year old into full back I was very nervous, but young Clarke did superbly. What a prospect for the future. He can play further out the field as well, was excellent at Midfield for Omagh St Enda's this year. Petey Harte, Mugsy & SON were all excellent.

Would like to see Coney get a game soon. He is a man that divides opinion all right. Can mix the sublime with the ridiculous - but personally I rate him & think he, like everyone else, deserves a chance to prove himself.

Good point Nakata
perhaps you can only name 26 players for the press / programme, but he is still included on the match day squad? a la Stephen O'Neill in 2008 AI final...
However, they are listed in alphabetical order which would mean Ronan O'Neill should be 26 and Sean O'Neill ought to follow him...

Lads - did Rony O'Neill not make the bench?    or has he picked up a knock?? noticed he didnt play for UUJ in the sigerson this week as well.

...must be injured there's no way you can drop a man who kicks 2-10 or something for what limited minutes he got in the mckenna cup this year.
Class Act is O'neill.

Firstly - saddened to see one of the most popular footballers in Ulster retire. He brought great joy to many Tyrone fans, with inspirational performances on the biggest days... A more genuine decent fella you will not come across. He really made the most of what talent he had, and lived up to Hartes old motto "be the best you can be"

On a sidenote, I was caught by suprise by this call. I thought Harte had said before Christmas that there would be no more retiree's?

Bearing in mind Marty Swift was a regular last year & he has emigrated to Austriala we have lost 7 players now. As someone remarked on gaaboard before - we are currently witnessing the biggest disbandment of a team in GAA History.

Is there a cloud now over the futures of Ricey, Gormley & Davy Harte? Clearkly the wiley old maestro Harte is keeping his cards close to his chest but could the magnificent seven, become 8? ... or 9? or 10?

I would be fairly certain that Ricey will play no part on Saturday night.

Also yesterdays Irish news listed Conor Gormley as injured?