Tyrone v Cork in Croke Park Sat 20th July 5pm

[Whishtup]

Peter Harte take a black card and miss the Dublin game freeing him up for the rest of the year.

Sounds risky, could overdo it and get a double red.  Would need some serious black card training to execute it perfectly.  I can see a section of Garvaghy sectioned off for pull downs, verbal and foot trips only.  If you listen to the pundits, this area might already exist!

[Fuzzman]

Petey needs no training. Just right foot in too far, then shoulder lad over the top  of it and throw arms up in the air.

Cork could give us a scare and with Hurley and Collins they are a threat. That Cork team have goals in them and if they take their chances like Roscommon didn't do then we could be in for a right game.
Was gas reading the papers yesterday and how many said Tyrone were always in control and just managed the game and pulled away in the second half v the Rossies. Whereas (as I predicted to herself) Brolly said Tyrone could have lost and Roscommon just gave away silly frees and possession time and time again.
In a way it's annoying but in another way I like the way the pundits keep saying our system is good enough to beat the lesser teams but not the big 3 or 4. Donegal did us a big favour by hammering us in Breffni and sending us down the qualifiers route again. It certainly has helped the confidence of many of the newer lads especially McShane. I am disappointed we've not seen more of Coney though but good to see Sludden back to his old self last weekend.
I would say we'll get Kerry in the semi and that could be one hell of a game if we are at full tilt and can contain their FF line.
Gotta beat Cork first though and to me that's not a gimme.

[bogball88]

Petey needs no training. Just right foot in too far, then shoulder lad over the top  of it and throw arms up in the air.

Cork could give us a scare and with Hurley and Collins they are a threat. That Cork team have goals in them and if they take their chances like Roscommon didn't do then we could be in for a right game.
Was gas reading the papers yesterday and how many said Tyrone were always in control and just managed the game and pulled away in the second half v the Rossies. Whereas (as I predicted to herself) Brolly said Tyrone could have lost and Roscommon just gave away silly frees and possession time and time again.
In a way it's annoying but in another way I like the way the pundits keep saying our system is good enough to beat the lesser teams but not the big 3 or 4. Donegal did us a big favour by hammering us in Breffni and sending us down the qualifiers route again. It certainly has helped the confidence of many of the newer lads especially McShane. I am disappointed we've not seen more of Coney though but good to see Sludden back to his old self last weekend.
I would say we'll get Kerry in the semi and that could be one hell of a game if we are at full tilt and can contain their FF line.
Gotta beat Cork first though and to me that's not a gimme.

He was at a wedding on Saturday, hence why he didnt feature against Roscommon

[The Bearded One]

Is that twice he has missed games for a wedding now? Harte must be getting more relaxed as the years go on.

[tyrone08]

what's the story with skeet this year. He's hardly gotten much time this year at all. Given our lack of forwards I would have though harte should be bringing him on more regularly to keep him sharp.

If McCurry or mcshane get injured you could hardly expected.skeet to come on and make an impact with limited game time under his belt

[GetOverTheBar]

what's the story with skeet this year. He's hardly gotten much time this year at all. Given our lack of forwards I would have though harte should be bringing him on more regularly to keep him sharp.

If McCurry or mcshane get injured you could hardly expected.skeet to come on and make an impact with limited game time under his belt

Can't have it all one way. McAliskey is an inside full forward. McShane has made that position undoubtedly his own. McAliskey can't do the dog work unseen that McCurry does coming inside to help the inside defensive shape. He's fighting for 1 of 2 spots and he's not done anything to suggest there should be a change really.

[tyrone08]

what's the story with skeet this year. He's hardly gotten much time this year at all. Given our lack of forwards I would have though harte should be bringing him on more regularly to keep him sharp.

If McCurry or mcshane get injured you could hardly expected.skeet to come on and make an impact with limited game time under his belt

Can't have it all one way. McAliskey is an inside full forward. McShane has made that position undoubtedly his own. McAliskey can't do the dog work unseen that McCurry does coming inside to help the inside defensive shape. He's fighting for 1 of 2 spots and he's not done anything to suggest there should be a change really.

Yeah suppose your right. Although in games where tyrone are winning by 4-5 points would be worthwhile bringing mcshane off to protect him for future games and bring skeet on.

[omagh_gael]

Good article by Brendan Crossan on Cathal McShane in IN...

The making of Owen Roe's blue-collar hero Cathal McShane
Brendan Crossan delves into the career of the Championship's top scorer and man of the moment Cathal McShane and his astonishing rise to prominence at the head of the Red Hand attack...

Tyrone's Cathal McShane has morphed into an outstanding full-forward as the Red Hands pursue another All-Ireland crown Picture by Philip Walsh
     
BRENDAN CROSSAN
13 July, 2019 01:00

ANY time Michael McShane ran into 'Duck' McCay he'd roll his eyes in mock dismay. One look from Michael was enough to tell 'Duck' that another piece of guttering at the top of his house had taken a battering.

It was there where Michael's son Cathal honed his kicking and catching skills.

'Duck' was one of the Owen Roe O'Neill's coaches that planted the seed in young McShane.

"Cathal's father used to complain to me because he'd kick the ball up on the roof and he'd catch it coming down," says 'Duck', now vice-chairman of the west Tyrone intermediate club.

"Occasionally the spouting would come off. Cathal did that constantly, practising catching the ball using both feet."

Gerard Porter introduced the skinny flame-haired kid to senior football in August 2012, coming off the bench in the club's junior championship defeat to Brackaville.

A few weeks later, the wide-eyed 17-year-old earned his first start for the Owen Roe seniors, scoring in a convincing nine-point win over Glenelly.

"What he had over the rest of the players of his age was he listened," recalls Porter, who enjoyed two managerial spells with his club.

"Cathal would have sat on the changing room floor with his legs crossed because there were no seats. He'd look up at that white board and he listened."

McShane became involved in Tyrone's development squads from 2009 before graduating to Mickey Donnelly's minor team in 2013 where he earned a reputation for being a great impact sub.

"He actually would have made it as a goalkeeper," insists 'Duck', who nurtured the vast majority of the youth around Owen Roe's.

"He kept goal for us in the minor championship final when he was only 14. The first time he went to trials for county minors I wanted him to go as a goalkeeper because I thought he would have made it as a goalkeeper, but he wanted to make it out the field."

For a time during his early teens it wasn't certain McShane would throw his lot in with Tyrone.

A fine soccer player, he played in the Milk Cup for Co Tyrone in 2012 and scored one of the goals that saw the Red Hands topple the mighty Manchester United, the first time in the competition's 30-year history that the Old Trafford club lost to a county side.

But once he turned down a soccer scholarship in America it was clear where McShane's heart lay.

During the early years, McShane and Owen Roe's experienced enough near-misses to last them a life-time, losing an U16 Grade Three league final in 2010 and the Grade Two decider the following year.

Also in 2010 he picked up another runners-up medal - as the goalkeeper 'Duck' always imagined him to be - at minor level.

The following year he finally got his hands on a winner's medal in a Grade Three League final against Aghaloo, the-then 16-year-old hitting five points in the decider.





Cathal McShane (centre) keeping his eye on the ball against Aghyaran U13s


Saturday July 6 2019: All-Ireland Round Three Qualifier: Cavan 0-7 Tyrone 1-20

RAPTUROUS applause rang out from the Gerry Arthurs stand as Cathal McShane was called ashore by Mickey Harte in the second half, with a place in the All-Ireland Super 8s already secured.

Tyrone's re-designed full-forward didn't have many possessions in the game but when he did Cavan couldn't contain him.

Porter was, quite literally, bursting with pride as he watched the player he gave his senior debut to seven years earlier.

The wiry kid from Sigerson country, with the unrecognisable physique and explosive pace, ripping up the Championship.

"I was down in Clones and I was sitting with my wife and my wee boy and I was just admiring him," says Porter.

"I was just thinking: 'Jeez, fair play to you...'

"When you hear people around you talking about him – you obviously don't get involved in the conversation – but you're listening to it and thinking: 'Little do they know how close I was to that young fella.'"

Here he was, young Cathal, thriving on the big stage, carrying the flag for Owen Roe's and following in the footsteps of clubmen Declan McCrossan and Brendan Boggs who also graduated to the Tyrone seniors during the 'Noughties'.

With a sardonic grin, 'Duck' adds: "At Owen Roe's we're inclined to come in ones."

McShane's two second-half points against Cavan were outrageous, accepting a kick pass both times, one each from Peter Harte and Kieran McGeary before turning and firing over the bar.

"Paudie Faulkner is one of the strongest full-backs in the game and Cathal was shrugging him off as if he wasn't there," says former Tyrone great Peter Canavan, who guided the Owen Roe's man to the U21 All-Ireland title in 2015.

"Cathal wouldn't have done that two years ago. His first touch and handling have improved and also his decision-making. Over the past couple of years he was taking shots when there were other options. He's not as shot-happy; he's shooting when it's the right time to shoot."

Canavan, Fergal Logan and Brian Dooher were the men behind the class of 2015. After edging out Tipperary in a memorable U21 All-Ireland final in Parnell Park, man-of-the-match McShane was one of the first Harte called upon for senior duty.

A couple of months later McShane was thrown in at the deep for Tyrone's ill-fated Ulster preliminary round defeat to Donegal in rainy Ballybofey.

It didn't go well, but the experience was banked all the same.

"Cathal was probably thrown into the team a bit quicker than Mickey would normally do because Tyrone were really searching for forwards around that time and needed a lead attacker," says Tyrone's three-time All-Ireland winner Philip Jordan.

McShane was raw as ropes, but he would come again. He'd too much natural ability and athleticism not to carve out a decent inter-county career for himself.

"At U21," Canavan explains, "we played him primarily at midfield because he had good hands, he was well able to win his own ball, he could get up and down the pitch and he could score. As far as we were concerned he was another Sean Cavanagh in our team. He loved taking men on and loved to score...

"At the start of each year, Tyrone would meet up and I remember Art McRory would gather the squad round and he'd tell the new recruits the only thing he could guarantee them was pain.

"Pain of losing, because it was inevitable we'd lose games, pain in terms of injuries, pain in terms of the sacrifices they'd have to make and the pain of trying to compete in inter-county football. He was saying to them that they were no longer playing U21 football."

A hard road lay ahead for McShane and his U21 team-mates as Harte set about rebuilding the senior squad.

"I think Cathal struggled tactically when he came into the team," says Jordan.

"I remember it was an Ulster semi-final replay against Cavan a few seasons ago [2016] and Peter Donnelly was running the line on that side and he was constantly giving Cathal instructions about where to be.

"It looked to me that he maybe wasn't picking up the gameplan as quick. People might say it's a very simple system, getting men behind the ball, but it's actually not that simple; it's about getting people in the right positions.

"There's a lot of work that goes into it, and you could see the work the management were putting into Cathal. They knew the talent was there – it was a matter of getting him to understand the game more."

***

AS a guest pundit on last week's Sunday Game, Malachy O'Rourke shone a light on the subtle changes to Tyrone's attack in 2019 and pin-pointed McShane's emergence.

"If you're looking for improvement in Tyrone Cathal McShane is a key figure for them," said the former Monaghan manager.

"Last year Mark Bradley was playing inside and his movement was sometimes away from the goals, whereas the ball is being played to Cathal McShane and he's in a very central area.

"[In last year's All-Ireland final] Tyrone had 16 wides compared to Dublin's six wides, so they had lots of play, lots of chances but they weren't getting them in the high-percentage scoring zone.

"With Cathal McShane in there he's giving them a focal point... he's more likely to be scoring from that area, and I think that's a massive thing going forward for Tyrone."

After hitting five points from play in Tyrone's Ulster prelim joust with Derry at Celtic Park in May, he was equally dangerous against Antrim.

Over the past six or seven years, Ricky Johnston has emerged as one of the best defenders in Antrim.

While studying at Jordanstown, the Creggan Kickhams man marked McShane while at St Mary's for roughly 20 minutes in a game.

Once he saddled up to the Owen Roes for their Ulster clash at The Athletic Grounds at the end of May, Johnston couldn't believe the physical transformation in McShane.

"As well as him being good, the ball that is provided for him is high quality," said Johnston.

"They hit a lot of cross-field balls against us which is difficult to defend against. He's got everything as a full forward; he's explosive, he's big and he never stops moving."

Backing up O'Rourke's canny observation, Johnston added: "He stays around the 'D' and tries to make as much space within that small radius. He doesn't drift too far from goal, which means he can maybe take his man on for a goal or pop it over."

Canavan also cites the departure of his U21 team-mate Mark Bradley and the introduction of the 'attacking mark', trialled during the National League, that perhaps prompted Mickey Harte to go for a ball-winning full-forward who would generally stay between the posts.

"If you look at the amount of passes he receives inside the scoring zone I think that's crucial," Canavan says.

"That's the toughest place to be winning it but it's the most effective. And if he can continue to do that he gives Tyrone a serious attacking option.

"Two years ago Cathal wouldn't have stayed in there when there was no ball coming in. I think he knows his role in the team and his part in the system.

"While he mightn't have seen much action in the first 20 or 30 minutes against Cavan, the longer the game went on the more ball he got. So he was rewarded for his patience in there."

While Tyrone have blazed a trail through this summer's Qualifiers to reach the Super 8s, the Donegal defeat in the Ulster semis remains a mystery – at least for those outside the camp.

Tyrone may only have lost by four points, but it was a four-point hammering.

On the face of it, McShane had a subdued night in Breffni Park – but on closer inspection the 23-year-old couldn't have done much more with 16 possessions, many of which were hard-earned.

With his first three touches he assisted for Tyrone's two opening points and set up a goal chance. He pointed with his sixth touch and faced with two men at all times he broke two balls he had no right to break.

The only possession he lost in the game was just before the interval.

As Kieran McGeary, Colm Cavanagh and Paudie Hampsey aimed hopeless balls into his general vicinity, McShane remained Tyrone's most potent weapon on the night, creating a late goal chance for Michael Cassidy that should have been the momentum changer for an out-of-sorts Tyrone.

Even when Tyrone faltered, McShane's performance levels remained high.

Top scorer in this year's Championship with 2-30, he has been the outstanding player in the country.

"Probably up until last year it was 50-50 whether the ball was going over the bar or not. He has now become a deadly finisher; when he takes a shot you're pretty certain he's going to score," says Jordan.

"He's been that focal point of the attack that Tyrone needed. Tyrone have shifted back to their older style a bit but he's still able to cause defences problems... He has an understanding of the tactical side of the game, and that's the biggest challenge he seems to have faced.

"For inside forwards it's a lot different now. You used to see them making a big run out the pitch to the ball. Now, no player is making a 50-yard run from the inside to get possession – it's five or 10-metre sprints and that's really where Cathal has surprised people with his explosiveness, plus he has that physical strength to go along with it. It's great to have that burst of pace but if you don't have the strength, defenders are still going to get their hands on you."





Young Cathal McShane starting to flourish with Owen Roe minors in 2013
THE Owen Roe's contingent will be out in force again today cheering on Cathal as Tyrone open their Super 8s account against Roscommon.

It's not just his talent that they laud. It's Cathal himself. He's always around the club, even for starred games, he's chatting and always making time for the youngsters.

The flattering headlines and the hype won't change him one iota because he came from humble roots and that's how he'll remain.

'Duck' says: "The influence he's having on the younger boys at the club is incredible – they all look up to him and want to emulate him."

"If he won the All-Ireland, it would be somebody who deserved it, somebody who deserved to flourish," says Gerard Porter.

"You see players and you think: 'He's got too big for his boots.' But not Cathal. You should see him with the kids at the club. He's just got something different. He's the Pied Piper

[Fuzzman]

Will Cork have their hurleys with them on Saturday?
Who's gonna mark him?

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gaa-statistics-goal-machine-brian-hurley-crucial-to-cork-s-game-of-we-ll-score-more-1.3959700

Brian Hurley is the football championship's most prolific goalscorer, he stays in the inside line and when the ball goes in it sticks.

Against Dublin last weekend Hurley never touched the ball further than 35 metres from goal. So far this summer he has received possession outside of the opposition's 45 only twice.

He had only eight possessions against Dublin, but won every ball that went into him, scored 0-3 and was directly involved in two goal chances. Cork had four goal chances in all, they took only one, Hurley missed a one-on-one chance he created for himself and assisted another missed attempt.

Traditionally an inside forward staying within 35 metres of the opposition goal would be the norm but Hurley is a dying breed in the modern game. An out an out poacher, his first thought is always goal and there's no better man to find the back of the net. Not this year anyway.

Hurley has scored more goals than any other footballer so far in the 2019 football championship. In four matches he has scored five and, including his last league game against Armagh when the Rebels first began to show their summer form, he has seven goals in his last five matches.

Cork have made 25 goal chances in those four matches, and Hurley has been directly involved in 11 of them. Either assisting or shooting. So that's almost three per match for the prolific No 14.

Of all the ball played in to him – in the Munster semi-final against Limerick, the final against Kerry, their qualifier win over Laois and first Super 8s match against Dublin – he has only failed to secure possession on three occasions. And twice he won the ball and was then turned over. He makes fantastic, varied runs and does not waste good ball.



Marquee forwards such as Michael Murphy will switch in and out, deemed too good to be away from the action for a prolonged period. Others come out as part of their team's defensive system, often leaving them behind the play when the ball is won back.

Hurley though positions himself inside the 13m line, he's two-footed which allows him to make runs off either side. He's always looking for the ball in behind and is strong and quick enough to win it out in front too. Most impressively though, in a team of ball carriers, he keeps the team's shape and backs himself to do more off less in the right areas.

He's averaging just over 10 possessions per match in the team's last four encounters. His positioning gives Cork an out ball, as well as preventing the opposition from committing to a full press against their running game. While Cork's man-for-man marking system allows him to pick up the last defender and remain a constant threat.


The Castlehaven club man has scored 5-7 in championship 2019 and assisted 1-4. And he was taken off with 26 minutes left of Cork's 21-point win over Limerick, for the last 10 minutes of the Munster final, and with 17 minutes left of their 4-20 to 1-17 win over Laois.

The player closest to Hurley in the goalscoring charts is Meath's Michael Newman, although half of his goals have been from the penalty spot. Four players have scored three goals – Hurley's team-mate Luke Connolly has also raised two green flags via penalty kicks, and Meath's Bryan Menton has three from midfield.

Armagh's Rian O'Neill scored three goals in four matches before his team's third round exit, while Matthew Fitzpatrick went one better with three in as many games for Antrim.

The players remaining in the championship who have scored two goals are Brian Fenton, Michael Dara Macauley and Con O'Callaghan for the Dubs, Jamie Brennan for Donegal, Roscommon's Shane Killoran, James Carr scored both of Mayo's goals in their win over Galway, and Cathal McShane and Darren McCurry of Tyrone.

Of the 125 goals scored so far this summer, no team has contributed more than Cork or Dublin who both have scored 11 times in their four matches. Of the teams in the Super 8s, Kerry, Donegal and Mayo have scored as many goals as they have played matches. That leaves Kerry with the least amount having played only three championship games thus far.

Roscommon have scored six goals in four matches (while conceding none) and Meath have the same ratio with nine in six. Tyrone have played seven matches and scored eight goals.

They have also conceded six, one less than Cork after playing three matches fewer. Mickey Harte's team have actually conceded 15 goals in 17 matches across the past two championship campaigns.

Packed defence
So between the Rebels and Tyrone they have scored 19 goals and conceded 13 ahead of Saturday's Super 8s encounter.

Hurley ripped his hamstring off the bone in 2016, then suffered a demoralising recurrence of the injury a year later. His footballing career was in doubt after both setbacks. But he took on surgery without any guarantees, and all the rehab twice over. Now, at 27, Cork fans are finally seeing the Hurley who starred as they reached the All-Ireland minor final in 2010 and the under-21 decider in 2013.

He's had to be patient, and against Tyrone's packed defence this weekend that patience will be put to the test in a different way.

He may have to wait longer than usual, but with this Cork team's quality and belief, and Hurley in their ranks, the chances will come. The problem is, with Cork's man-for-man defensive plan, there'll be plenty of chances at the other end too.

Without any cover, one take-on or loss of concentration opens the whole thing up to overlaps. Against Kerry, Tom O'Sullivan scored 1-1 from half back, and last weekend the Dublin backs scored 1-3 and their midfielders finished with 2-1.

But Cork ultimately still back themselves to score more - after all they do have the championship's number one patient poacher.

[Cunny Funt]

Some impressive stats there on Brian Hurley. Good to see him back to impressive form again. For a while there it seemed like his county career would be cut short due to injury. 

[giveballaghback]

I think Tyrone's are perfectly set up to give Cork a hammering.

I really would not be surprised to see a similar type of game to the Tyrone Cavan game, maybe not quite the same gap in the scoreline but a similar structural dismantling where Cork struggle to make an impact against the Tyrone defence and Tyrone just have to wander down the field and pop over points at their ease.

I think Cork were rather fortunate the scoreline in the Dublin game wasn't wider.

So the David Brady of Tyrone, humble to the last.

[Jayop]

Bit sad there's no Cork football fans on here and we have to resort to the Rossies coming in to try a stir a bit of craic up.

[Rossfan]

Bit sad there's no Cork football fan on here

He's in Páirc Uí Rinn tonight.

[Jayop]

Bit sad there's no Cork football fan on here

He's in Páirc Uí Rinn tonight.

[tyroneman]

Hmm...bad feeling about this....never like playing Cork and memories of 2009 keep rattling round in my head.