Tyrone v Kerry - All-Ireland Semi-Final, Sunday 11th August 3.30pm

[BennyHarp]

Finding it hard to pick Harte's starting 15 for Sunday. At a guess I'd go for:

Morgan
Brennan
McNamee
McKernan
Cassidy
Hampsey
Meyler
Cavanagh
Kennedy
Burns
Sludden
McGeary
Harte
McShane
Mattie

But he could easily include any of the following:

Hugh Pat
McCann
R Donnelly
McCurry
McAliskey

Other boys like McLaughlin, Mulgrew and Coney did well last week but it's hard to see them being thrown in at this stage. Likes of McClure couldn't be ruled out either but he looks to have Kennedy ahead of him.

I think it's a must win game for this team under Harte to be honest. They've been building and building now since 2015 and have did really well. But I think beating Kerry in an All Ireland semi final would be another step up the ladder for the team. A loss would knock things right back and would lead to a lot of questions as to whether we are capable of making the breakthrough.

I think we have the potentially to cause a lot of damage in the forward lines if we can win enough possession and not get dragged back deep. I think this Sunday is set up for a huge performance from the team and hopefully back to back finals for the first ever time for Tyrone.

Think Hampsey is still not at full fitness. He's better in reserve to we see who gets injured/black carded.

           Morgan
Brennan Mc namee pasty
Burns  Mc Geary.   Mc Kernan    Meyler
   Hampsey    Colm
Matty.   Sludden    Petey
     McShane.   Mc Curry

Cassidy might start in place of Mc kernan and he's unlucky to lose out but that's a competitive half back line and it's hard to warrant his inclusion ahead of any of those 4. He's just on par with them. Likewise Richy was one of  the main reason we won in Dublin in the league with his passing ability and scoring was to the fore that night. Very hard to drop him out of that team We need Sluddens accuracy and Mc curry pace and score taking to balance out Matty's and Mc Shane's physical presencne in attack.

I think that's pretty close Trileacman but I presume you meant Kennedy rather than Hampsey in midfield given your opening sentence. I think leaving Ritchie and Cassidy in reserve may not be a bad shout, both add something different and can provide a dynamic impact. I suspect we will start with Matty in around midfield and he will move in during the second half when Ritchie will come on n to provide the balls in.

[trileacman]

Finding it hard to pick Harte's starting 15 for Sunday. At a guess I'd go for:

Morgan
Brennan
McNamee
McKernan
Cassidy
Hampsey
Meyler
Cavanagh
Kennedy
Burns
Sludden
McGeary
Harte
McShane
Mattie

But he could easily include any of the following:

Hugh Pat
McCann
R Donnelly
McCurry
McAliskey

Other boys like McLaughlin, Mulgrew and Coney did well last week but it's hard to see them being thrown in at this stage. Likes of McClure couldn't be ruled out either but he looks to have Kennedy ahead of him.

I think it's a must win game for this team under Harte to be honest. They've been building and building now since 2015 and have did really well. But I think beating Kerry in an All Ireland semi final would be another step up the ladder for the team. A loss would knock things right back and would lead to a lot of questions as to whether we are capable of making the breakthrough.

I think we have the potentially to cause a lot of damage in the forward lines if we can win enough possession and not get dragged back deep. I think this Sunday is set up for a huge performance from the team and hopefully back to back finals for the first ever time for Tyrone.

Think Hampsey is still not at full fitness. He's better in reserve to we see who gets injured/black carded.

           Morgan
Brennan Mc namee pasty
Burns  Mc Geary.   Mc Kernan    Meyler
   Hampsey    Colm
Matty.   Sludden    Petey
     McShane.   Mc Curry

Cassidy might start in place of Mc kernan and he's unlucky to lose out but that's a competitive half back line and it's hard to warrant his inclusion ahead of any of those 4. He's just on par with them. Likewise Richy was one of  the main reason we won in Dublin in the league with his passing ability and scoring was to the fore that night. Very hard to drop him out of that team We need Sluddens accuracy and Mc curry pace and score taking to balance out Matty's and Mc Shane's physical presencne in attack.

I think that's pretty close Trileacman but I presume you meant Kennedy rather than Hampsey in midfield given your opening sentence. I think leaving Ritchie and Cassidy in reserve may not be a bad shout, both add something different and can provide a dynamic impact. I suspect we will start with Matty in around midfield and he will move in during the second half when Ritchie will come on n to provide the balls in.

Yeah Kennedy instead of hampsey

[Jayop]

Enda McGinley lays it on the line for this current Tyrone squad today
Reminding that Tyrone haven't beat any of the big 3 Dublin, Kerry or Mayo since 2008 in championship
"Essentially this means that Tyrone can be viewed as good, but not 'top level' good"
Massive opportunity on Sunday to put this right

He's absolutely right tho. The best teams we've beaten in the last ten years are Donegal and Monaghan. Kerry, Mayo and Dublin have had the better of us and despite this being three semis in a row we've dodged them or been beat by them. We need to win this game big time to get that monkey off our back. Do that and the belief will skyrocket that we can beat dublin (or maybe mayo) in the final.

As for the team I'd just like to see Skeet starting up with McShane. I think Donnelly would be my first choice up there but can't see Mickey taking that chance from the get go. Let Skeet up and make a switch every so often with Harte and Mattie. Keep kerry guessing because all three offer something completely different.

Hopefully we can be better disaplined in defense and not give that edjit reffing cause to ride us again. That will be the winning and losing of this game for me.

[ONeill]

I agree about McAliskey. Thought against the Dubs he was finally finding the match sharpness we last saw v Monaghan in the semi last year.

[GetOverTheBar]

Enda McGinley lays it on the line for this current Tyrone squad today
Reminding that Tyrone haven't beat any of the big 3 Dublin, Kerry or Mayo since 2008 in championship
"Essentially this means that Tyrone can be viewed as good, but not 'top level' good"
Massive opportunity on Sunday to put this right

Enda is quietly going about his work in the media but he's spot on.

It's pressure on the team, but pressure that should be embraced.

Tyrone must win. Simple as. Excuses are all gone.

[omagh_gael]

I agree about McAliskey. Thought against the Dubs he was finally finding the match sharpness we last saw v Monaghan in the semi last year.

The main reason I think he hasn't nailed down a starting spot is his tendency to go for scores outside the high percentage areas. Again last weekend he tried some crazy shots against the wind that didn't come off. Those will kill you in do or die games like this weekend.

[WT4E]

Not Harte bashing but if he fails to beat Kerry this weekend surely it might be an idea to give someone else a go.

As you say we can't beat the top teams so we need to try and do it.

In saying that I have feeling that Tyrone will take Kerry this weekend.

[bigpackiechestout]

Not Harte bashing but if he fails to beat Kerry this weekend surely it might be an idea to give someone else a go.

As you say we can't beat the top teams so we need to try and do it.

In saying that I have feeling that Tyrone will take Kerry this weekend.

Let's not overdo this narrative that Tyrone can't beat the big teams. We have played Kerry and Mayo once each in the championship in the past 5 seasons and have narrowly lost out on both occasions. It's not like they are turning us over year after year. It would have been great to get a victory against these sides in Croke Park but there's nothing you can do if you're drawn against other teams. For what it's worth I think if we had faced either team last year we would have beaten them

[Jayop]

To be honest I've never been one for calling time on Harte. At least never too loudly. He's been magnificent for us and his contribution to Tyrone football can never be forgotten. That said if we can't beat a very young inexperienced kerry side with a team he's built over a decade then it just might be time. We've had a great few years in terms of progressing late into the summer and I'd always be careful of what you wish for. But this game is a must win for me and if we lose it could set us well back.

Donegal are getting stronger, Kerry are a coming team, Dublin won't go away. If we lose this then really and truly we can't claim to be any better than 4th best in the country this year. That's a step back for me.

[Ball Hopper]

[Ball Hopper]

No Kerry subs announced.

[Sportacus]

I think Tyrone will win.  They'll suck the life out of the Kerry forwards and Kerry will be very vulnerable to the fast ball counter attack. 

[MayoBuck]

Kerry haven't won a game in Croke Park since beating Galway in the 2017 quarter final. 2 draws and 4 defeats between league and championship since then.

A tough game to call but I'd be leaning towards Tyrone narrowly.

[Wildweasel74]

Tyrone maybe by 3.depends if Geaney and Clifford don't run riot.

[clarshack]

Honestly can see Kerry racking up 1-19. Can't see us bettering that.