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Hearing today from a reliable source that Errigal have failed in their appeal in the points scandal with Dungannon. Not often Errigal don't get their way with the county board or relevant authorities so its always nice to see them taken down a peg or 10. Effectively we could win the league with 2 pts against Clonoe tomorrow night, however I'm sure there will be no celebrating done either way until the game the following sunday.

What was Errigal's grounds for an appeal?

Aghyaran still need a point from their game at Killeeshil to win the league, provided Greencastle beat Kildress.

Heard rumours about a very big name being suggested for the Down job.

Jimmy

Gavin or McGuinness.....

2/5 Trillick 15/2 Killyclogher 5/2

2/9 Errigal 10/1 Loughmacrory 4/1

1/5 Dromore 11/1 Eglish 4/1

4/5 Carrickmore 6/1 Coalisland 11/8

Mcshane was roasted by McGlinchey- he relied on frees all night. Owen roes a good setup surely they're favourites now

McShane came out to midfield in the 2nd half and was a lot more influential - set up the first goal with a great burst and set up an number of other attacks. Defensive enough game overall - Ronan McHugh only seen 15 minutes at the end and kicked a few scores - could have been used earlier

Guessing some potential match-ups.. assuming similar team selection

Morgan

Hampsey v Conroy
McNamee v O'Shea
McKernan v O'Donoghue

M'O'Neill v Loftus
Burns v McHale
Harte v K. McLoughlin

Kennedy v O'Connor
Kilpatrick v Ruane

K.McGeary v Durcan
Sludden v Plunkett
Meyler v Coen

McKenna v Hession
M. Donnelly v Keegan
McCurry v O'Hora

Hennelly


SUBS:

Harrison, Mullin, Walsh, Carr, Flynn, C O'Shea, D. Coen

McShane, McCann, Canavan, Bradley, R. Brennan, McDonnell, Rafferty

Is the match not available to re-watch on the RTE player? I'm sure Tyrone's games in Ulster were

I always loved the Football ranking table that Laoiseman does on Boards.ie I dunno did he ever post it here too...

Anyway, here's the current top 10 with the 4 provincials and the other semi final making up the movement you see.

1|▲2|Mayo|109.70|6.14
2|▼-1|Dublin|107.58|-4.30
3|▼-1|Kerry|104.48|0.00
4|=|Tyrone|103.25|1.43
5|▲2|Donegal|93.40|0.00
6|▼-1|Galway|92.84|-1.84
7|▼-1|Monaghan|92.56|-1.43
8|=|Kildare|91.10|0.00
9|=|Meath|90.84|0.00
10|=|Cork|89.48|0.00

he hasn't done his predictions based on the model for this weekend which tend to be a lot more detailed than just "team a is above team b so they will win", I think it takes past results between the teams, current form etc also into account so it could be interested.

I was actually really shocked at how close Tyrone and Kerry are and how far Donegal are off the top 4.

Hmm Armagh should be on that list... Monaghan above Galway and close or ahead of Donegal. Armagh similar level to those 2. Kerry a whole pile further ahead of Tyrone... verry little between the big 3. Imo of course.

How/why should Armagh be on that list?

Because they were a brain fart away from beating Monaghan in the championship, they're definitely clear of Cork, Galway, Kildare and Meath. Drew with Donegal in the league and gave Tyrone a game after being crippled with injuries. For me there is the top 3 who are well clear with not an awful pile between any of them, then the 4 Ulster teams with not a whole pile between them (Armagh probably admittedly the weakest but not by much.) Then the rest.

Top 4 then the rest. Tyrone have been in at least the All-Ireland semi 4 of the last 5 years. Monaghan 2018 and Cavan 2020 only other Ulster teams to get there.

Is there a game happening on Saturday ?

There sure is. I'm really looking forward to Saturday now with the minor game on and the semi final. Great day for Tyrone GAA.

As for Tyrone's chances, let's be honest they were never great. Kerry gave us a hiding in the league and while I don't think we were ever in danger of that being repeated we were always going in as heavy underdogs. This covid situation has been a nightmare for everyone involved, Kerry (fair play to them for being accommodating) having to wait so long since the Munster final and Tyrone for the fact that training has been totally disrupted and there's a chance boys might not be at 100%, although that's of set to some degree by the fact other lads like McKenna and McShane have had more time to get up to speed.

This is the first year I can remember watching Tyrone where I can honestly say we've had the rub of the green from refs in all the games. Obviously a few big decisions have gone against us but that happens and on balance I think we've had more go for us. We're absolutely going to need that to continue to happen this weekend for us to have any chance at all. I'm worried Gough will be overly fussy about our defending and be card happy. We're screwed if so, hard enough to compete with Kerry with 15 men on the field, we can't afford any black or red cards at any point.

Do Tyrone have a chance? Of course they do. On their day they are more than capable of beating a fancied Kerry team. In 2008 we were total outsiders and we were facing a massive threat from brilliant Kerry forwards. We managed to nullify them then and it's possible it can happen. Tyrone do have to firepower to cause Kerry serious problems too if they can keep solid at the back. We just need to get plenty of really good quick ball in and perhaps for once we can not butcher every goal chance we get.

Not having beat a Kerry, Dublin or Mayo team since 2008 is a big monkey to shake off our back. It's a tall order but can be done.

Prediction

Kerry to be about 5 up at half time, Tyrone to come back at them but someone to make an idiotic challenge and get a black or red then Kerry to pull up comfortably in the end. I hope I'm wrong!!!!

Coldrick reffing

The main basis for a lot of  the predictions is that Tyrone will win because they always beat Monaghan in Croke Park. But how many times have they actually played each other there in championship, it can't have actually been that many. I remember the infamous Cavanagh rugby tackle on McManus to save the match for Tyrone and the semi final win in 2018 when Monaghan missed a few chances at the death but I don't recall many others. If there were others they can't be all that relevant to the current teams. I think Monaghan are being largely written off in this match by the media which will suit them just fine.

2005 Qualifier, 2013 QF, 2015 QF, 2018 SF

Marty Clarke also picked up that Armagh when they had the big comeback and were up with 10 minutes left were unsure of what to do -evidenced by Kelly and I think McQuillan refusing shots and recycling late on. Also the Rian O'Neill free from near 70 yards would never have been taken on had they been behind.

At the other end McManus had the mental ability and the skill to knock over two great frees, also won and scored a free just before that by taking on his man. You could see him telling Kieran Hughes at one point to keep calm and not kick away possession.

Some effort from Beggan, what's the kicking distance from the sideline on the 45?

60 metres

Tyrone (SF v Donegal): Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan, Padraig Hampsey (captain); Niall Sludden, Michael O'Neill, Peter Harte; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Kieran McGeary, Richard Donnelly, Conor Meyler; Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly, Conor McKenna.

McNamee to come in for Sludden or Richie I'd guess

Has there been any updates on Conor McKenna?

Dooher said "Conor had an injury the last couple of weeks, looking at the long term picture with him to get him right but hoping he will be there or thereabouts for next week"

Who will be Mayo free taker now that Cillian is gone? Ryan O'Donoghue?