McKenna Cup 2024

[BennyHarp]

so whats the craic with the Tyrone students now not playing for their county in a final, but readying themselves for a college semi final?

They aren't playing because they have a semi final in a few days. Earlier in the year they didn't have a semi final in a few days

eh? earlier, when pressured to play county football, was that not preparation time for the Sigerson as well? either college football is important enough or it isnt surely. you boys are some craic

This game was postponed and was due to be played a few weeks ago. Those lads would have played then. It's now being played 2 days before the Sigerson Semi final, it hardly takes a massive brain to work out why the lads aren't playing tonight.

[J OGorman]

so whats the craic with the Tyrone students now not playing for their county in a final, but readying themselves for a college semi final?

They aren't playing because they have a semi final in a few days. Earlier in the year they didn't have a semi final in a few days

eh? earlier, when pressured to play county football, was that not preparation time for the Sigerson as well? either college football is important enough or it isnt surely. you boys are some craic

This game was postponed and was due to be played a few weeks ago. Those lads would have played then. It's now being played 2 days before the Sigerson Semi final, it hardly takes a massive brain to work out why the lads aren't playing tonight.

so its all about the county, until its not all about the county...loud 'n clear ;-)

up Cavan

[BennyHarp]

so whats the craic with the Tyrone students now not playing for their county in a final, but readying themselves for a college semi final?

They aren't playing because they have a semi final in a few days. Earlier in the year they didn't have a semi final in a few days

eh? earlier, when pressured to play county football, was that not preparation time for the Sigerson as well? either college football is important enough or it isnt surely. you boys are some craic

This game was postponed and was due to be played a few weeks ago. Those lads would have played then. It's now being played 2 days before the Sigerson Semi final, it hardly takes a massive brain to work out why the lads aren't playing tonight.

so its all about the county, until its not all about the county...loud 'n clear ;-)

up Cavan

Maybe it was just a tactical decision by Mickey to leave them out? 

[cadhlancian]

FFS! Even an orange microphone...

[J OGorman]

so whats the craic with the Tyrone students now not playing for their county in a final, but readying themselves for a college semi final?

They aren't playing because they have a semi final in a few days. Earlier in the year they didn't have a semi final in a few days

eh? earlier, when pressured to play county football, was that not preparation time for the Sigerson as well? either college football is important enough or it isnt surely. you boys are some craic

This game was postponed and was due to be played a few weeks ago. Those lads would have played then. It's now being played 2 days before the Sigerson Semi final, it hardly takes a massive brain to work out why the lads aren't playing tonight.

so its all about the county, until its not all about the county...loud 'n clear ;-)

up Cavan

Maybe it was just a tactical decision by Mickey to leave them out? 

McCann and horse have them in some nick at this stage

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Good run out for a few boys who haven't played much so far. Tyrone should have won by a lot more really, some amount of goal chances. Thought Mackey deserved his MOTM award with some tremendous direct running and fine scores.

[BennyHarp]

Great to see Kyle Coney getting a few nice scores, I still have the hope that he will be a major player for us.

[sam03/05]

Good to see Coney back after injury battle.
Was top scorer in league for us two years ago.
Serious competition for places in full forward line
Ronan ONeill
Mattie Donnelly
McCurry
McAliskey
Stevie O'Neill
Coney
Penrose
McNeice

[Captain Obvious]

Strong wind? Cavan only scored three points in the second half.

[CD]

Didn't seem like a strong wind from the stand but looked like it had a big baring own at pitch level. Game was scrappy enough and really was over as a contest when tyrone scored a goal just before half time. Really good performances from Mackey and Keaton. Lots of positive displays from tyrone squad players but i'd say there's one or two who have had ample opportunity but haven't impressed. Is Kyle Coney the easiest pkayer in the country to block??

[Fuzzman]

JoG, I suppose you'll be calling now for the cup to be taken off Tyrone and given to Cavan because of the students.

I hope you enjoy your year supporting Derry again and like Brolly whinging about us red arses. Oh yeah we're not red arses any more.

[sam03/05]

Didn't seem like a strong wind from the stand but looked like it had a big baring own at pitch level. Game was scrappy enough and really was over as a contest when tyrone scored a goal just before half time. Really good performances from Mackey and Keaton. Lots of positive displays from tyrone squad players but i'd say there's one or two who have had ample opportunity but haven't impressed. Is Kyle Coney the easiest pkayer in the country to block??

He kicked 5 points so he can't be that easy to block

[haranguerer]

From what I saw (on the streaming which kept freezing) the referee was very bad, and seemed to have been particularly hard on Tyrone on a number of occasions, didnt give at least one certain (supported by the two armagh commentators) penalty, and one certain 14 yd free (at least) when the cavan lad jumped on the ball.

Ok, they won anyway, and when that happens theres a tendency to say 'No big deal, made no difference', but it does matter. The only way confidence can be built in reffing is through consistency, that means from the first challenge game of the year right through to the AI final. In Gaelic, refs have much too great an influence on games (letting say a losing team back into it), given just how subjective some of their decisions seem to be. I'd love to hear their explanations for some of their decisions.

[God14]

Tyrone team v Cavan last night: N Morgan (0-03, 3f), PJ Quinn, D McBride, R McKenna, R McNabb, D Carlin, T McCann, N McKenna (0-01), S Cavanagh (0-01), PJ Lavery, C Cavanagh, P Kane (1-00), P McNeice (0-03), M Donnelly (0-01), K Coney (0-05, 2f).

Tyrone team v Mayo NFL 9th Feb: N Morgan (0-01,f), A McCrory, C Clarke, B Tierney, C McGinley (0-02), P Harte (00-01), T McCann, C Cavanagh, C Grugan, E McKenna, S McGuigan, P Hughes, D McCurry (2-04, 0-1f), M Donnelly (0-05), R O'Neill (0-01,f).

So only Niall Morgan, Tiernan McCann & Colm Cavanagh retained their places from the last game. To make 12 changes and still come out 7 point winners against an emerging Cavan team is very impressive.
Add in to that the likes of Aidan Cassidy, Joe McMahon, Conor Gormley, Stevie O'Neill & Justin McMahon to come back into contention - competition for places is serious.
I thought after 20 minutes it was going to be a real struggle. Cavan were up for a scrap, well organised defensively whilst Keating, Dunne & Mackey were looking lively and Keating in particular was winning his battle with McBride. The referee was biased too in favour of the underdogs, so to turn that around was very pleasing.

Plenty to work on - Niall Morgan missed a few kicks that were within his range. I thought PJ looked the best of the full back line. McBride seemed to stand off Keating too much. Maybe the black card he picked up against Derry was still on his mind.
Niall McKenna doesn't seem suited to Midfield, lacks physicality and im not sure where he would fit into our first 15. Paddy McNiece spurned a few goal chances that others (McCurry, McAliskey or RON)  wouldn't & PJ Lavery hasn't really come to terms with intercounty yet - its early days for him. It looks like it might take a year.
Kyle Coney served a reminder of his talents, if only he could get a good run injury free. That was a very encouraging performance as he has only had a few weeks training. Sean Cavanagh took a few great catches in the middle of the park & you could see why Mickey likes him there as opposed to the FF line. Tiernan McCann played well I thought & seems to be pushing on now and improving with every game.

[nrico2006]

Unbelievable to see basically a completely different team turn out and beat Cavan well.  Glad to see Coney do well, hopefully he gets back to his league for of two years ago when he was top scorer before injuries took over.  What did Keating score of McBride?  He is in a rich vein of form at the minute and I think he scored 6 or 7 points from play off the Leinster full back at the weekend so maybe wouldn't be too hard on McBride who has probably only played a game or two at full back for Tyrone before.