Messages

I wasn't being too serious. I'm pretty sure it'll be a tough and close game tomorrow night. That will benefit both teams ahead of the league. I think Tyrone's greater scoring power around the pitch and impact subs such as McCurry and McAliskey could make the difference. Cavan haven't been conceding too much in the games.

If these Cavan lads think they're going to turn up in Enniskillen tomorrow night and role over Tyrone like the U21 games then they're in for a shock!

Looking forward to seeing how McGuigan and Lavery go in the half forward line. Also McBride looked a good option in the middle versus Armagh so would be great if he could build on that. It would be a great boost for the squad to win this without having to pull back in the older guys.

f**k Mickey Harte why should he be dictating the terms of the competition. If the Ulster Council told him tough shit then he would have to lick his wounds and play the McKenna Cup without the Uni lads anyway because Tyrone "don't do challenge matches".

There should be an * beside any win they've had since 2007 (They won because they used all their college players!)

I'm sure the vast majority of people don't give a crap about the uni's preparations for the sigerson cup and will have no interest in the competition. It's an easy way to give Harte amuse. As the most successful manager in ulster I will trust his judgement which he has been consistent on over the years.

 
Tyrone team v Queens – Sunday 12th January

Comórtas: Dr McKenna Cup
Cluiche: QUB v Tír Eoghain
Ionad: An Omaigh
Dáta: 12 Eanair 2014
Throw-in: 2pm

1 Michael O'Neill Cluain Eo
2 Hugh Gallagher An Omaigh
3 Kevin Campbell Doire Treasc
4 Ronan McNamee Achadh Uí Aráin
5 Ciaran McGinley Aireagal Chiaráin
6 Peter Harte Aireagal Chiaráin
7 Tiernan McCann Coill an Chlochair
8 Niall McKenna An Domhnach Mór
9 Conan Grugan An Omaigh
10 Kevin Gallagher An Baile Nua
11 Peter Hughes Eiscreach
12 PJ Lavery Cluain Eo
13 Patrick Quinn Dún Geanainn
14 Daniel McNulty Cluain Eo
15 Connor McAliskey Cluain Eo
16 Niall Morgan Éadan na dTorc
17 Conor Clarke An Omaigh
18 Matthew Donnelly Trí Leac
19 Danny McBride An Srath Ban
20 Aidan McCrory Aireagal Chiaráin
21 Shea McGuigan Ard Bó
22 Emmett McKenna Eaglais
23 Patrick McNiece Oileán a'Ghuail
24 Ronan O'Neill An Omaigh
25 Darren McCurry Éadan na dTorc

Yeah the college lads were badly needed, Mattie Donnely, Ronan O Neill, Danny McBride, sitting on the bench

All 3 college boys named above are starting again on Saturday. I'd say the college boys have got more out of the McKenna cup with tyrone than they would have with their uni's.

Would be great to see such an inexperienced tyrone team go on and win this and very encouraging for the year ahead. When I saw the panel I thought we'd struggle to get out of the group.

I can't see Coney making an impact this year even if he does get over his injury. In my opinion Patrick McNiece seems to be fit and able this year and I can see him making a championship 15 this year.
As for the return of the Cavanaghs, It is great to get Sean back to the panel but i would love to see more of Nial Mckenna in midfield and also try to get Conan Grugan a starting spot.
Also heard a rumor that Penrose could be taking his retirement but as I said this is only a rumor.

Hopefully colm cavanagh gets more of a break from tyrone supporters this year. Proved in the quarter and semis last year that he was more than worth his place. Grugan and McKenna are both good on the ball and decent players but struggled badly to win possession last Sunday against what may not even be Derrys first choice midfield. I don't think colm is a guaranteed starter this year but tyrone do need that kind of work rate around the middle.

Terrible referee today who did his best to ruin the game by blowing up any kind of contact. I don't know what the exact definition of the new advantage rule is but his was different to anyone else's so far and it was crap. To me if someone gets fouled in a tackle but breaks through it runs on and gets time to play a pass the advantage should be over.

Tyrone definitely weren't as impressive today, there seemed to be a we hit of complacency after the good start. Some nice play from the full forward line. We struggled to win enough ball in the middle though. I think one of the reasons Gallagher is there is to win dirty ball but he didn't do it today. McCann struggled badly before being taken of.

Yeah Donnelly tortured Vernon in the 1st half. I think for the 1st game or 2 in the league a lot of the younger boys will end up getting a chance. Will be interesting to see how they do and if they're still in contention come the end of the league. McGuigan got some possession particularly in the 1st half.

I wouldn't be getting too carried away but I do like the look of some of our new young players . Seems to be plenty of quality and more importantly the confidence and desire to get on the ball. Mcguigan impressed me with his ability to win ball tonight. Pj lavery is also a classy player, only doubt with him is his size. Midfield battled well and I'd definitely like another look at Mcbride there. He can really challenge to start this year some where on the team.

Talk of getting rid of the older players is nonsense. Ideally 2 or 3 players brought in last year will improve with the year behind them and another 2 or 3 new players can make the step up. That combined with our more experienced could provide a very competitive team.

Still not entirely sure about what he can do with the full back line though. Tierney struggled on Clarke tonight as you'd expect but I liked the fact that battled hard and can hopefully learn from it.

I personally think there is too much emphasis on university football. It's about the universities flexing their muscles and in some cases trying to do out do each other. Players are only there normally for 3 or 4 years max and I find it hard to believe that anyone has huge loyalty to that uni, certainly not compared to their club or county. The games do not exactly attract a huge following. I wonder do the people on here who keep knocking tyrone actually follow university football?

Time to pull the College teams out of this competition.
They barely ever win a game, bring nothing in terms of attendance etc.
the county teams need the players as the league starts in Feb.

Just make it a competition for county teams again, simple.

It's not that long ago a college team was in the foal of the competition. Fermanagh were beat by a college team the year. No other province has any bother with college tens playing in their competitions and the majority of teams in ulster are the same. Tyrone set the precedent by having all their college payers in their squad and other counties followed (Armagh with Jamie Clark). I'd ask anybody to tell me what Mickey Harte has learnt about someone like mattie Donnelly over the course of the competition that he didn't already know

I'd say he's hoping to learn how he reacts to a bit more responsibility given that he is me of the most experienced players in the squad now with all the absentees. He was given the chance to captain his county v Donegal, something which I'm sure mattie considers a great honour. He's also getting to experiment with him in the full forward line, a place he hadn't got much experience at county level.

Apart from that he needs the likes of him in order to give the younger players the chance to integrate at the level. No point n sticking a complete team of rookies out.

I'd say being involved with tyrone will improve matter Donnelly as a player at the level as opposed to being in his uni team. He's still learning all the time and there's no doubt the county games particularly the knock out ones are of a higher standard than those involving students which often lack bite.

 
Tyrone team v Queens – Sunday 12th January

Comórtas: Dr McKenna Cup
Cluiche: QUB v Tír Eoghain
Ionad: An Omaigh
Dáta: 12 Eanair 2014
Throw-in: 2pm

1 Michael O'Neill Cluain Eo
2 Hugh Gallagher An Omaigh
3 Kevin Campbell Doire Treasc
4 Ronan McNamee Achadh Uí Aráin
5 Ciaran McGinley Aireagal Chiaráin
6 Peter Harte Aireagal Chiaráin
7 Tiernan McCann Coill an Chlochair
8 Niall McKenna An Domhnach Mór
9 Conan Grugan An Omaigh
10 Kevin Gallagher An Baile Nua
11 Peter Hughes Eiscreach
12 PJ Lavery Cluain Eo
13 Patrick Quinn Dún Geanainn
14 Daniel McNulty Cluain Eo
15 Connor McAliskey Cluain Eo
16 Niall Morgan Éadan na dTorc
17 Conor Clarke An Omaigh
18 Matthew Donnelly Trí Leac
19 Danny McBride An Srath Ban
20 Aidan McCrory Aireagal Chiaráin
21 Shea McGuigan Ard Bó
22 Emmett McKenna Eaglais
23 Patrick McNiece Oileán a'Ghuail
24 Ronan O'Neill An Omaigh
25 Darren McCurry Éadan na dTorc

Yeah the college lads were badly needed, Mattie Donnely, Ronan O Neill, Danny McBride, sitting on the bench

They just weren't needed for this game. I'd say by end of the McKenna cup the boys above will get more game time than they would have with their uni. Plus the games they play in will be more competitive.

It's a disgrace that there are NFL games on the 16'th of March with the club finals on Paddy's Day.

Was the same last year, yet GAA can create a gap between league fixtures to allow time for the Railway cup.

What exactly is the issue? The 17th March is still free for club games.

Errigal won the Championship last season yet at present we only have 2 on the Tyrone panel. It is the least amount of representation I can remember in a long time. Just because you have a great team does not mean you have lots of great players. I would suggest the best performer Clonoe have is Damian Cassidy. He is able to get the maximum out of these group of lads collectively.

Only 2???
McRory McGinley and Harte to come back.. Hmmmmm.... 2 too many to be honest...

Mcginley and Harte well worth there place on the panel. I'm not convinced with mcrory but corner back options are limited.

[Other players have been given chances over the years and a few more this year.]

Not a Clonoe man starting, nothing changes much? I predict the Clonoe men will be back at the club sooner rather than later

Clonoe are a good all round team. Mcaliskey is probably the player most suited to county football and was there last year. Other players have been given chances over the years and a few more this year. This craic about an anti clone agenda is nonsense.

Pray tell what players other than Mc Aliskey have been given opportunities. Stevie Mc Nulty was on the panel two years ago and got, all told about 45 minutes in the season. Can't recall any of our players in the past 6 yrs playing National League games. But you may be able to name one to back up your theory that others have been given chances

Colm Donnelly
http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2007/0203/214104-tyrone/

Also others have been part of the squad at various times. I don't buy into the anti Clonoe agenda. A good team with good players no doubt and hopefully a couple of others can shine this year.

Why doesnt he play challenge games like any other co manager.? Challenge games and Mckenna cup games are effectively the same thing, experimenting looking at players. He has a great track record doent mean what he does  re the college teams is right

Donegal won a couple of challenge games before today yet looked of the pace in the 2nd half. I think Harte could be right on them being a waste of time. Very different to real match situations.