Tyrone v Monaghan, Sun 20th May, Healy Park

[WT4E]

The monaghan squad looks stronger this year than it has in a number of years.

Agreed looked a lot more rounded than Tyrone on Sunday but if they where to lose out on a semi with Tyrone in their Super 8 group and Tyrone made it it would be a huge kick in the balls to the squad again. Interesting times ahead.

[GrandMasterFlash]

If you win ulster you go into the same group as Dublin which is a good thing imo. You can afford to get beat by Dublin, win the other 2 games thus quality for semi and avoid Dublin again til the final.

So if you emerge from your 'super 4' group you will be in a semi-final with a team from the other super 4 group? That might be preferable but taking a beating from Dublin in your group may not be ideal, and it also means you must beat the other 2 teams in the group to qualify for the SFs, who might be at away/neutral venue.. Score difference will be significant also between the 3 teams vying for second place.

[GrandMasterFlash]

The monaghan squad looks stronger this year than it has in a number of years ever.

And that's no disrespect to the teams of the 80s.. 

[southtyronegael]

If you win ulster you go into the same group as Dublin which is a good thing imo. You can afford to get beat by Dublin, win the other 2 games thus quality for semi and avoid Dublin again til the final.

So if you emerge from your 'super 4' group you will be in a semi-final with a team from the other super 4 group? That might be preferable but taking a beating from Dublin in your group may not be ideal, and it also means you must beat the other 2 teams in the group to qualify for the SFs, who might be at away/neutral venue.. Score difference will be significant also between the 3 teams vying for second place.

top of super group A plays second super group B

[sensethetone]

If you win ulster you go into the same group as Dublin which is a good thing imo. You can afford to get beat by Dublin, win the other 2 games thus quality for semi and avoid Dublin again til the final.
[/quote

So if you emerge from your 'super 4' group you will be in a semi-final with a team from the other super 4 group? That might be preferable but taking a beating from Dublin in your group may not be ideal, and it also means you must beat the other 2 teams in the group to qualify for the SFs, who might be at away/neutral venue.. Score difference will be significant also between the 3 teams vying for second place.

top of super group A plays second super group B

should be interesting to say the least.

[JoG2]

Surely Tyrone supporters over the age of say 40 / 45 wouldn't have the same sense of entitlement as most of the lunatics in here?? a fruitful 6 years in a competition that has been running for 130 odd years.   

[sensethetone]

Surely Tyrone supporters over the age of say 40 / 45 wouldn't have the same sense of entitlement as most of the lunatics in here?? a fruitful 6 years in a competition that has been running for 130 odd years.

Better than a fruitful year.

[southtyronegael]

Surely Tyrone supporters over the age of say 40 / 45 wouldn't have the same sense of entitlement as most of the lunatics in here?? a fruitful 6 years in a competition that has been running for 130 odd years.

we had to spend a fair few of those 130 odd years fighting British rule/oppression when other counties couldn't be bothered or were too busy playing football.

[straightred]

Darragh O'Se doesn't think the Monaghan panel is strong enough to come through the super 8's in his article today.

Just read it and while he makes some good points is it not the same for everyone else except Dublin and maybe Kerry. 4 of the super 8 teams will have come through at least one back door game so they'll already be on the back foot and vulnerable to injuries and suspensions. I think the 4 provincial winners will have a big advantage in their super 8s as the Connaught champions will have a 4 week break and the others will have 3 weeks off (assuming no replays). The backdoor qualifiers will have no break - e.g. if mayo or tyrone get that far they'll have played on 3 consecutive weeks and then will face the 3 super 8 games on the next 3 weeks. The happy path to the semi is to win your province. Do that and O'Se's argument is less relevant.

[Shamrock Shore]

Surely Tyrone supporters over the age of say 40 / 45 wouldn't have the same sense of entitlement as most of the lunatics in here?? a fruitful 6 years in a competition that has been running for 130 odd years.

Better than a fruitful year.

Burned!

[Rossfan]

It's the CONNACHT Championship straight red and anyone else! !

[Keyser soze]

It's the CONNACHT Championship straight red and anyone else! !

Yeah definitely a Straight Red.

[straightred]

It's the CONNACHT Championship straight red and anyone else! !

The spelling police are out  Duly noted!

[Maroon Manc]

Darragh O'Se doesn't think the Monaghan panel is strong enough to come through the super 8's in his article today.

Just read it and while he makes some good points is it not the same for everyone else except Dublin and maybe Kerry. 4 of the super 8 teams will have come through at least one back door game so they'll already be on the back foot and vulnerable to injuries and suspensions. I think the 4 provincial winners will have a big advantage in their super 8s as the Connaught champions will have a 4 week break and the others will have 3 weeks off (assuming no replays). The backdoor qualifiers will have no break - e.g. if mayo or tyrone get that far they'll have played on 3 consecutive weeks and then will face the 3 super 8 games on the next 3 weeks. The happy path to the semi is to win your province. Do that and O'Se's argument is less relevant.

Galway well stacked in the forward department if everyone is match fit but nowhere near that level of quality at the back.

You're right, its the teams that come through the back door who could really be in trouble, if Tyrone or Mayo get through to the super 8's they will have to play 5 weekends in a row. I don't know to what extent playing that many games will have on the older players will have either, I know Mayo always brought Boyle off after about 55 mins last year but didn't against Galway the last day and it was him who failed to track Heaney for the goal; That goal wouldn't have happened in the 1st half.

[omagh_gael]

Think this could be where Tyrone's squad may help them negotiate the hectic schedule. Mayo's strongest area is defence but that same defence must have an average age of around 30. When Cavanagh and McCarron came off against Monaghan the oldest player left was Matty Donnelly at 27 (according to Malachy Clerkin). Himself and Petey Harte were minor in 2008 so must be close to hitting 28 now, though.

Furthermore, although we lack standout star players, we do have riches of players around the same level who could easily slot in week to week in order to keep things fresh.