McKenna Cup 2024

[armaghniac]

We've Armagh co. Board to thank for the coverage not really the bbc. If this match was in Omagh or newry the cameras wouldn't be there for it. It's the Armagh tv gig which we've to thank for the coverage.

Wobbler is somewhat sceptical of the sustainability of volunteer input to such operations, but perhaps the GAA providing the coverage is one way forward for smaller games. 

[Main Street]

Ah fair play to Donegal, some amount of messing by Tyrone but a more interesting game as a result.

Poor Niall Devlin, a Tyrone man, having to present the cup!

I thought Tyrone would be glad to rid of it, a millstone.

[StephenC]

Enjoyable enough game. Fair play to the BBC (and to the Armagh setup by the sounds of it) for broadcasting it.

Donegal tackling pretty poor I felt and it's been an unwelcome feature of our game all year. Some bad wides too. A good run out for the younger lads though and nice to see Frank and Michael feature.

[redcard]

Players like Ronan O'Neill and Ronan McHugh need to be doing much more to put pressure on for a starting spot in NFL. Not good enough tonight. McCurry doimg much better.

Yes ........ apart from Ronan's free kicks keeping Tyrone in the match.

[slippery dodger]

Attendance of 4,287 for the McKenna Cup final With each attendee paying €10 + no wonder they wanted it played

[skeog]

Wrong dodger season tickets which cost 25 for the five games children u 16 free.

[omagh_gael]

Ronan's free taking was much better after the first miss. Still not doing enough from open play though. Ronan McHugh took on some crazy efforts as well when recycling was the correct option.

Some finish by McElhinney for his goal, btw.

[never kickt a ball]

Dr McKenna Cup final: Donegal deny Red Hands

February 17, 2018

Donegal's first-half goal is chipped in by Martin McElhinney against Tyrone in the Dr McKenna Cup final
Donegal finished strongly to thwart Tyrone's bid for a seventh successive Dr McKenna Cup title at the Athletic Grounds this evening.

Declan Bonner's side have nothing to show for three promising performances in the Allianz FL Division 1 to date but they got their hands on some silverware thanks to a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over the Red Hand County.

A lively encounter saw Harry Loughran (Tyrone) and Martin McElhinney trade goals in the opening quarter and the Tir Chonaill oufit led by 1-9 to 1-6 at the change of ends.

Michael Murphy came off the bench to replace McElhinney early in the second-half and he contributed three points to his county's cause.

Niall O'Donnell and Paul Brennan also made an impression on the scoresheet while the Donegal defence did well to hold Mickey Harte's men scoreless in the closing stages.

It represents Donegal's first success in the competition since 2010 and is a timely boost ahead of next weekend's must-win league fixture against Kildare.

Donegal - Shaun Patton; Stephen McMenamin, Conor Morrison, Frank McGlynn (0-1); Eamonn Doherty, Paul Brennan (0-2), Dáire O'Baoill (0-2); Odhrán Mac Niallais (0-1), Hugh McFadden; Ciaran Thompson (0-1), Martin McElhinney (1-1), Mark McHugh; Caolan McGonagle, Stephen McBrearty, Marty O'Reilly (0-2, 1f). Subs: Niall O'Donnell (0-3) for S McBrearty (24); Michael Murphy (0-3, 2f) for McElhinney (41); Nathan Mullins for O'Reilly (45); Caolan Ward for McGlynn (53); Brendan McCole for McGonagle (64); Neil McGee for Doherty (70)

Tyrone - Mickey O'Neill; Aidan McCrory, Cathal McCarron (0-1), Brendan Burns; Michael Cassidy, Ronan McNabb, Kieran McGeary (0-1); Padraig Hampsey, Ben McDonnell; Declan McClure (0-1), Harry Loughran (1-1), Conal McCann (0-1); Darren McCurry (0-1), Ronan McHugh, Ronan O'Neill (0-6, 5f). Subs: Matthew Donnelly for McClure (40); Cathal McShane for Cassidy (41); Peter Harte for McGeary (42); Hugh Pat McGeary for McCrory (50); Conor Meyler for McDonnell (53); Niall Sludden for Loughran (60)

Ref: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

http://hoganstand.com/Tyrone/Article/Index/281376

[never kickt a ball]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/43049736

Bonnar happy

Dr McKenna Cup final: Donegal 1-16 Tyrone 1-12

1 hour ago
Donegal manager Declan Bonner is pleased with his side's McKenna Cup win
Donegal have ended Tyrone's dominance of the McKenna Cup after coming out on top an entertaining final at the Athletic Grounds.

Tyrone were denied a seventh straight title as Donegal registered their first McKenna Cup success since 2010.

Harry Loughran and Martin McElhinney exchanged first-half goals as Donegal won out by 1-16 to 1-12.

Donegal's Michael Murphy came off the bench to score three points and steer his side to a deserved win.

Tyrone finished the game with just 14 men after captain Matthew Donnelly was shown a second yellow card during a tense finish.

The two neighbours will renew their rivalry in just two week's time when they meet in round five of the National League.

Forward dominance

Martin McElhinney's first-half goal gave Donegal a three point lead at half time
Martin McElhinney's first-half goal gave Donegal a three point lead at half time
Colm Cavanagh's expected return to action for Tyrone was postponed as the All Star midfielder was one of several late changes made by both managers before throw-in.

The two sides have struggled during the opening rounds of the league and took advantage of the change of competition to showcase their attacking threat.

In free flowing start, the teams combined to score a total of 2-8 during the opening 12 minutes.

Donegal had the better of the early exchanges as Declan Bonner's side used their speed of movement to cut through the Tyrone defence with Ciaran Thompson landing the opening score in the first minute.

Tyrone also showed plenty of attacking ambition and took the lead against the run of play when Loughran grabbed the first goal in the seventh minute.

The centre forward got onto Conal McCann's clever pass and kept his composure to side foot his shot under Shaun Patton.

Donegal regained the lead just two minutes later when McElhinney cut through the Tyrone ranks and dinked a clever finish over the on-rushing Mickey O'Neill to score.

Donegal midfielders Odhran MacNiallais and Hugh McFadden were dominating in the centre of the field, which allowed their side to keep the Red Hands at arm's length throughout the first half.

Wing-back Daire O'Baoill scored two points from play and Marty Reilly also converted a free as Donegal moved into a four point lead after half an hour.

Tyrone found some momentum after Kieran McGeary's long-range effort dropped just under the crossbar and Donegal did well to scramble the ball away.

Mickey Harte's men finished the half strongly as a point by Cathal McCarron and a free by Ronan O'Neill meant there was just three between the teams at the break.

Impact substitutes

Hugh McFadden lifts the McKenna Cup for Donegal for the first time since 2010
Hugh McFadden lifts the McKenna Cup for Donegal for the first time since 2010
Tyrone began the second half strongly as McGeary forced a turnover and Declan McClure scored an excellent long-range point.

Niall O'Donnell restored Donegal's three-point lead with the first of three second-half points by the substitute forward.

Harte turned to his bench with the introduction of Matthew Donnelly, Cathal McShane and Peter Harte, while Bonner responded by springing Murphy off the bench in the 41st minute.

O'Neill's free taking was keeping Tyrone in contention and the corner forward briefly drew his side level on 1-10 apiece in the 45th minute after he added three quick scores.

O'Donnell responded with a rapid-fire brace before Murphy showed his class with a superb point that restored Donegal's three-point cushion.

O'Neill and Murphy exchanged further frees before Donnelly was dismissed for a late hit on Thompson that allowed Donegal to clinch the insurance score in injury time.

Tyrone: M O'Neill; A McCrory, C McCarron, B Burns; M Cassidy, R McNabb, K McGeary; P Hampsey, B McDonnell; D McClure, H Loughran, C McCann; D McCurry, R McHugh, R O'Neill.

Replacements: N Morgan, M Donnelly, R Brennan, P Harte, C McAliskey, HP McGeary, C McLaughlin, D Mulgrew, C McShane, C Meyler, N Sludden.

Donegal: S Patton; S McMenamin, C Morrison, F McGlynn; E Doherty, P Brennan, D O'Baoill; O MacNiallais, H McFadden; C Thompson, M McElhinney, M McHugh; C McGonigle, S McBrearty, M Reilly.

Replacements: P Boyle, C McGinley, N O'Donnell, B McCole, N McGee, J McGee, J Brennan, C Ward, M Murphy, D O'Connor.

[never kickt a ball]

Mickey Harte hits out at the media after Tyrone's McKenna Cup defeat

https://t.co/3jrPVGB4wh

[Throw ball]

Mickey Harte hits out at the media after Tyrone's McKenna Cup defeat

https://t.co/3jrPVGB4wh

He was easily wound up with what appeared to be a reasonable question. 

[omagh_gael]

Mickey Harte hits out at the media after Tyrone's McKenna Cup defeat

https://t.co/3jrPVGB4wh

He was easily wound up with what appeared to be a reasonable question.

I'd imagine it was the frequency of the same question that was the straw that broke the camels back. We'll never go all out attack but we are playing with slightly more adventure, for example, we've been playing with a two man FF line for the majority of games this year and are using the early kick pass into the FF more frequently.

[twohands!!!]

Mickey Harte hits out at the media after Tyrone's McKenna Cup defeat

https://t.co/3jrPVGB4wh

He was easily wound up with what appeared to be a reasonable question.

I think what kills him is he has to know himself how Gavin and the Dubs completely mugged him off.

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Mickey Harte hits out at the media after Tyrone's McKenna Cup defeat

https://t.co/3jrPVGB4wh

He was easily wound up with what appeared to be a reasonable question.

I'd imagine it was the frequency of the same question that was the straw that broke the camels back. We'll never go all out attack but we are playing with slightly more adventure, for example, we've been playing with a two man FF line for the majority of games this year and are using the early kick pass into the FF more frequently.

The obvious change this year is in itself an admission that the style last year was flawed. His attempt to argue that Tyrone were playing a similar style to other teams is bizarre. It's like the folk at teamtalk posting pictures of Dublin with all of their men in their own half and suggesting that it was the same as Tyrone. Yes everyone pulls all their players back at times now, but the Tyrone style of the past two years was based on trying to take the extreme Donegal model and making it more defensive. It was a flawed system and there was never any evidence it could beat one of the top teams.  Tyrone would have beaten all the sides they won against last summer playing a more open style, and they would almost certainly have been more competitive against Dublin having more of a go too. Their style of play meant they were effectively beaten before 10 minutes were played. Embarrassing stuff for the manager, probably no surprise he is a bit touchy about it. 

[never kickt a ball]

McKenna Cup
The 2019 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup launch takes place on Wednesday 5th December at 6.30pm in the Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AP. 

2019 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup
All Sunday games at 2:00pm; All midweek games at 8:00pm.

30th Dec (Sun): Round 1
6th Jan (Sun): Round 2
9th Jan (Wed): Round 3
13th Jan (Sun): Semi Finals                       
19th Jan (Sat) Final   
N.B.   All Fixtures potentially should be considered as floodlit games.