Still can't my head around yesterday.
10 point lead and a manager with this reputation as being defensive.
This is an all time low.
Let's start from goalkeeper - one dimensional kick outs and no presence under a high ball - look at the penalty incident. Far better keepers in the county than the ex St Marys keeper.
The defence - Kevin McKiernan a great servant to Down but not up to it anymore and especially in key role as 'sweeper'. The ex St Marys player's better days are behind him. Others like Paddy Murdock , Peter Fagan and Daniel Guinness part of the great QUB defence that lost to DCU in Sigerson by about 30 points. Seems to be only interested in these college players and if you look at the squad there are guys there can't even get starting places on their college teams and they are very poor Sigerson teams compared to the past. On kick outs these guys made little movement to give us options as opposed to going long literally all the time.
Midfield in second half was non existent - Johnny Flynn was bullied out of it.Dylan Ward should have started full stop.Caolan Mooney outstanding and then went quiet.
Up front Jerome Johnston was fantastic in first half and his leg seemed to bother him in second. Liam Kerr was great too but then to be taken off has to be a mystery. Barry O'Hagan the great 'kicker' should have been called off at half time but the biggest mystery is Conor 'never out of the gym' staying on. He wouldn't get on a decent club side.Donal O'Hare just not at this level anymore.
The substitutions I couldn't get my head around ,Corey Quinn needed on yes as did Dylan Ward but the other two they offered nothing, James Guinness an average at best club player (don't think he even starts automatically for his club) and Sheelin Johnston young and not even an established starter for his club.. How Ryan Johnston was not on early is inexplicable.
I think Tally needs help on the side-line as what he has there at the minute is limited. I'd hope to see him be a bit ruthless with his managerial assistants and get a football man in not a gym guy.
There were players in Club Championship who should have been asked in to join the squad.
Yesterday was a dark day for county.
Ah catch yourself on.
I am no fan of Tally and would be very critical of his playing style. I think most of the points you have made above are way off the mark. You have put the boot in there to a group of lads who had to:
Play a completely different brand of football that they have been playing for the last few years - who would have thought - kick passing and playing in the opponents half. And changing to this at a late stage in the championship;
They excelled and gave us the best half of football in this years championship, in the worst conditions;
Deal with a referee who played Cavan back into the match;
Deal with a situation where they had to defend a big lead, in an Ulster SF, against a very hungry and more experienced Cavan team. How many of them would have experience of that?
Play on with some serious questions over substitution decisions, and a serious amount of responsibility placed on relatively inexperienced shoulders;
All of the above, and if they had have taken their goal chances, they would have beat Cavan off the park.
And lost by just a point.
I feel sorry for the players more than I am disappointed. I also feel sorry for Tally, as I believe he set up to win by going for it.
I can't see how your dissection above adds to the discussion.
It is not an all time low. 2019 vs Louth in Pairc Esler was a lot worse.
Dark days if you focus on the bad.