McKenna Cup 2024

[Over the Bar]

I thought Dooher was captain for this year again? 

He is but in his absence MH has had to temporarily assign the captaincy to Ricey, Cavanagh or whoever.  He'll re-assume captaincy on his full return which is where the confusion may arise.

[realredhandfan]

Expect a huge battle this saturday.  Donegal will be looking to lay down a marker.  Tyrone are shit hot...

[Jack Dempsey]

looks like the final is in Healy Park. Why do Tyrone get home advantage ?

[realredhandfan]

Surely its the best venue for it, as  I assume they flicked for it between Bally Bofey and Omagh. 

[never kickt a ball]

looks like the final is in Healy Park. Why do Tyrone get home advantage ?

Don't know but Donegal got it three years ago when they tossed a coin (Cormac's last game). Heard Donegal are happy and relaxed about playing as it will be good preparation for League tie.

[sam03/05]

Omagh  is the best venue for this game. What is the point in playing a game like this at a neutral venue?
Would mean a much smaller crowd.

[Over the Bar]

Donegal are used to winning in Healy Park anyway.

[never kickt a ball]

Cavlan the real star of the show
14 February 2007
Tyrone turned on a tremendous team performance on Tuesday night, 13th of February when convincingly defeating Monaghan in the semi-final of this season's Dr. McKenna Cup.
Mickey Harte's side have definitely recovered their appetite for the game and some of the displays of the younger members of the squad shows the great 'strength in depth' of this present Tyrone side.
However, on the night the real stars of the show were ace marksman Stephen O'Neill – he finished the sides top scorer with 1-5 and the evergreen Gerard Cavlan.
Cavlan lined out in the midfield sector and was the dominating personality in that area. His positional sense, passing and all round play was worth the admission price on its own. He missed out on getting the 'man of the match' award, it went to Stephen O'Neill – but it must have been a close call!
With Cavlan, O'Neill showing top form, and Dooher and Jordan coming back to the fray things are really looking up for this Tyrone side, and it must be a serious worry to many of their key opponents so early in the season.
http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=72776

Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup Semi Final

Tyrone 2-16 Monaghan 0-8
It was all too easy for Tyrone under lights at Kingspan Breffni Park on Tuesday evening as they steamrolled Monaghan to reach yet another McKenna Cup final. Mickey Harte took the opportunity to again look at players before he trims his panel and the men on duty once again did their bit to leave the management team with a difficult decision when it comes to whittling down the numbers soon.
Paul Finlay kicked the first wide of the contest before Monaghan opened the scoring in the third minute when Paul Meegan converted a twenty metre free after Rory Woods had been fouled. Moments later Seamus McEnaney's men were two points to the good after Brendan McKenna reacted first to a breaking ball to split the posts after Rory Woods' initial effort had been blocked by Paul Marlow. Martin Penrose then registered Tyrone's first wide of the night before Stephen O'Neill opened their account in the seventh minute from a thirty metre free. Monaghan were looking dangerous though in the opening stages of the contest and they should have had a goal when a superb Nicholas Corrigan pass put Rory Woods in the clear but Tyrone keeper Jonathan Curran came of his line and the Monaghan attacker fisted the ball tamely wide of the target. Tommy McGuigan had a Tyrone wide before the holders struck for the opening goal in the ninth minute. Declan Treanor won the Monaghan kick out and played the ball to Niall Gormley who sprinted clear before squaring the ball for Stephen O'Neill to palm it into an empty net.
Paul Meegan had a Monaghan wide before Stephen O'Neill put Tyrone three in front when he made no mistake from a "45". In the 14th minute Tyrone grabbed their second goal of the game to take a firm stranglehold of the contest. It all began at the back with Ciaran McCrory making a good clearance to Gerald Cavlan who in turn played a superb long ball into Stephen O'Neill, the full forward fisting the ball into the path of Declan Treanor who finished to the net past Monaghan keeper Padraig McBennett. Monaghan responded with a sweetly struck "45" from midfielder Paul Finlay but Stephen O'Neill quickly put half a dozen between them again with a fine effort with his right after again being the recipient of a perfect Gerald Cavlan pass. Niall Gormley had a Tyrone wide before Rory Woods won a free at the other end of the field and Paul Finlay made no mistake from the twenty five metre free. A good move involving Ciaran McCrory, Paul Marlow, Declan Treanor, Paul Rouse and Niall Gormley ended with the latter feeding the ball out for Tommy McGuigan to take a neat score.
Stephen O'Neill then made no mistake from a thirteen metre free out on the right wing as Tyrone continued to dominate proceedings. Another Paul Finlay "45" gave Monaghan temporary respite but it didn't last long with Declan Treanor laying the ball out for Paul Rouse to strike a superb score from out on the left wing. Paul Meegan and Nicholas Corrigan both kicked injury time wides as Tyrone led 2-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Straight from the restart Monaghan broke through the Tyrone defence and when Brendan McKenna set up Eoin Duffy he seemed destined to score a goal but Cormac McGinley made a great block to divert the danger. Substitute Damian McDermott and Stephen O'Neill both recorded wides before the latter made amends in the fifth minute after profiting from a superb Gerald Cavlan pass. Things got worse for Monaghan in the seventh minute when Eoin Duffy was sent off for a high tackle on Martin Penrose. Good work from Paul Quinn helped carve an opening for Aiden McCarron to point with Stephen Gollogly responding for Monaghan in the tenth minute. In the 14th minute Monaghan created another goal chance but again Cormac McGinley came to his side's rescue as he deflected Donal Morgan's shot over the bar. Monaghan failed to score for another twenty five minutes as Tyrone upped the tempo once more.
Tommy McGuigan hit a brilliant point from out on the right wing and that was followed by a Damian McDermott point after good approach play from Stephen O'Neill and Gerald Cavlan. Christopher Colhoun got his name on the score sheet after collecting a Paul Rouse pass before the Brackaville man turned finisher with a thirty metre free after Brian Dooher had been held of the ball. The Tyrone Captain had been introduced in the 19th minute of the half for club team mate Stephen O'Neill and he got a rousing reception from the Tyrone faithful. Paul Rouse then tagged on a neat point from play before the biggest cheer of the night greeted a wonderful strike from Brian Dooher with his left after a good move that involved Tommy McGuigan, Kelvin Hughes and Paul Rouse. Monaghan were struggling to even get the ball out of their own half and when Tommy McGuigan found Brian Dooher the latter again split the posts, this time with his right peg. Gerald Cavlan then became the ninth Tyrone player to get his name on the score sheet before Monaghan had the last say with a point from substitute Tomas Freeman.
This was another accomplished display from Mickey Harte's charges with all but four of their points coming from play. Its early days but the depth of talent at his disposal certainly augers well for the remainder of the season, All Star defender Philip Jordan another player who made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday night. Next up are Donegal under lights at Healy Park on Saturday evening in the final of the Gaelic Life McKenna Cup, Tyrone bidding to retain the title for the fourth year in a row.

Tyrone – Jonathan Curran, Paul McGurk, Cormac McGinley, Ciaran McCrory, Paul Quinn, Paul Marlow, Martin Penrose, Gerald Cavlan, Kelvin Hughes, Aiden McCarron, Tommy McGuigan, Declan Treanor, Paul Rouse, Stephen O'Neill, Niall Gormley. Subs – Damian McDermott for Niall Gormley, Christopher Colhoun for Declan Treanor, Brian Dooher for Stephen O'Neill, Mickey Murphy for Kelvin Hughes, Philip Jordan for Ciaran McCrory
Monaghan – Padraig McBennett, Donal Morgan, James Coyle, Ciaran Hughes, JP Mone, Jason Hughes, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Paul Finlay, Vincent Corey, Mark Daly, Rory Woods, Eoin Duffy, Paul Meegan, Brendan McKenna, Nicholas Corrigan. Subs – Stephen Gollogly for Mark Daly, Tomas Freeman for  Rory Woods, Dessie Mone for Paul Meegan, Dermot McArdle for Brendan McKenna, Conor McManus for James Coyle
Tyrone scorers – Stephen O'Neill 1-5, Paul Rouse 0-3, Declan Treanor 1-0, Tommy McGuigan 0-2, Brian Dooher 0-2, Christopher Colhoun 0-1, Aiden McCarron 0-1, Damian McDermott 0-1, Gerald Cavlan 0-1
Monaghan scorers – Paul Finlay 0-3, Donal Morgan 0-1, Paul Meegan 0-1, Stephen Gollogly 0-1, Brendan McKenna 0-1, Tomas Freeman 0-1
http://www.tyronegaa.ie/county/football/news/story.jsp?newsid=292

[never kickt a ball]

See Tyrone are looking for clearance for the University 4 to play in the MCKenna Cup Final. Does anyone know if Donegal have any players from the unversities who played in their respespective competetions and are now in the Donegal squad?

[thejohnharanexperi]

Karl Lacey,Paul Durcan and Michael Doherty have played with Sligo IT in all of the FBD League with the final against Galway to be played on Sunday.No other panel members are involved with 3rd level teams.

[never kickt a ball]

Can anyone post this article from the Irish News. I don't want to quote out of context when the Tyrone Chair states in relation to the McKenna Cup:

"Secondly, teams signing up to the competition should respect the integrity of the competition and its historical significance to the GAA in Ulster. It is my view that this is not currently the case. Teams should compete in the McKenna Cup to win it. Dr McKenna's memory deserves such respect"

Who do you think he is targeting this at?

[armaghniac]

Who do you think he is targeting this at?

Well he might mean the other 8 counties, who dilute their teams by not playing university players just because the Ulster council say they should. Or maybe he means Monaghan who allowed themselves be beaten. Or maybe Armagh, who obviously could win it if they wanted to, but who prefer that other Ulster cup named after a mere newspaper that is awarded in the summer.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Who do you think he is targeting this at?

Well he might mean the other 8 counties, who dilute their teams by not playing university players just because the Ulster council say they should. Or maybe he means Monaghan who allowed themselves be beaten. Or maybe Armagh, who obviously could win it if they wanted to, but who prefer that other Ulster cup named after a mere newspaper that is awarded in the summer.

Usual shite from the Orchard I see!

[ziggysego]

We'll see who wins Ulster this year.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

We'll see who wins Ulster this year.

We will indeed Ziggy, it's just a shame that the three big guns are in the same side of the draw!!