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A little bit of reality needed. Tyrone have beaten Monaghan again in Croke park just like 2013 and 2015 only this time in a Semi final. We all know what happened after. The personnel hasn't changed much especially in attack. That's where the problems mainly lay. It's gonna be a tough ask in two weeks.

I agree with you there. Hartes done a great job considering the players at his disposal.

Why do you think their are problems in attack? Mickey s poor tactics. The RTE boycott has been going on now since 2011 for no apparent reason other than Mickey didn't like getting ridiculed because his bestie didn't get a big job on the TV station. Looks like Harte comes first in Tyrone and f**k the players and their moment in the sun.

Are people just ignorant or do they purposely misrepresent the reasons why Harte has a problem with RTE?

Could be both. I have been critical of Mickey over the last 6-7 years but I fully agree with him not speaking with RTE. If someone disrespected a deceased relative of mine, not speaking to them would be the nicest thing I would do.

[The only other radical surprise would be to bring back Sean Cav and put him in full forward]

Dublin's biggest weakness (yes...i know) is a weakness under a high ball onto their full back line - would there be a chance that Tyrone throw Colm Cavanagh up there for periods of the final? It's a potential way through - you lose what he does anchoring the defence but against Dublin in the Super 8 game he was largely rendered irrelevant as Dublin wouldn't actually go through the middle, instead slip down the sides, i.e. Rock pretty much playing out at the corner of goalline/end line.

Would Harte give this a go? I think it's a no go, but a big man in front of Cluxton tends to get him to do strange things like the Comer goal last Saturday - maybe a pity Tyrone don't have a 'big' natural forward.

If he wasn't in there holding the middle they'd probably go straight through it. Though maybe anyone in there would be enough to make them avoid it. Either way Colm Cavanagh is such a key part of the defensive set up I don't think he could risk moving him at this stage. We have seen less ball kicked in there as the season has went on and R Donnelly role as ball winner has become less effective. I think I'd start McAliskey and Harte up front with Bradley playing of them. Lee Brennan to come on with 20 minutes to go.

I was thinking this the other day. For certain periods of the game, say 7 min spells I would def put Colm in the full forward line. Start McAliskey and Bradley up front, bring Colm up for periods and pump quality high ball in. With Colm and McAliskey hopefully winning the ball a quick player like Bradley would be through on goal. Cooper and Phily are prone to fouling players but seem to get away with it. This would cause them a nightmare.

Bring brennan on for the 2nd half. I dont think hes fit enough due to a lack of game time this year to start.

The only other radical surprise would be to bring back Sean Cav and put him in full forward. Doubt this would happen though due to the comments he has made but remember in 08 mickey brought back Stephen O'Neill just for the final that year.

How can someone be so stupid to actually think that and then commit it to a forum for the world to see 

That was a bit harsh lol. I said it was radical. I do think they are going to have to try something completely new to suprise the dubs. Seems the dubs have the measure of us so a curve ball wouldn't hurt their chances.

Dublin's biggest weakness (yes...i know) is a weakness under a high ball onto their full back line - would there be a chance that Tyrone throw Colm Cavanagh up there for periods of the final? It's a potential way through - you lose what he does anchoring the defence but against Dublin in the Super 8 game he was largely rendered irrelevant as Dublin wouldn't actually go through the middle, instead slip down the sides, i.e. Rock pretty much playing out at the corner of goalline/end line.

Would Harte give this a go? I think it's a no go, but a big man in front of Cluxton tends to get him to do strange things like the Comer goal last Saturday - maybe a pity Tyrone don't have a 'big' natural forward.

If he wasn't in there holding the middle they'd probably go straight through it. Though maybe anyone in there would be enough to make them avoid it. Either way Colm Cavanagh is such a key part of the defensive set up I don't think he could risk moving him at this stage. We have seen less ball kicked in there as the season has went on and R Donnelly role as ball winner has become less effective. I think I'd start McAliskey and Harte up front with Bradley playing of them. Lee Brennan to come on with 20 minutes to go.

I was thinking this the other day. For certain periods of the game, say 7 min spells I would def put Colm in the full forward line. Start McAliskey and Bradley up front, bring Colm up for periods and pump quality high ball in. With Colm and McAliskey hopefully winning the ball a quick player like Bradley would be through on goal. Cooper and Phily are prone to fouling players but seem to get away with it. This would cause them a nightmare.

Bring brennan on for the 2nd half. I dont think hes fit enough due to a lack of game time this year to start.

The only other radical surprise would be to bring back Sean Cav and put him in full forward. Doubt this would happen though due to the comments he has made but remember in 08 mickey brought back Stephen O'Neill just for the final that year.

Tyrone fans are being very precious about being labelled cynical in the run up to Sunday's match. I also never seen a set of supporters as pre occupied with who is the referee. It is just in their mentality to push the boundaries of the rules to the limit of what they think they can get away with instead of simply playing the game on it's own merits.


"There will be no quarter asked or given between these two rivals, but I had to laugh when I read Dick Clerkin warning Monaghan to be aware of Tyrone's cynical play. It's pretty ironic coming from a man who was well-known for his cynical acts!"

The above comments on their own are fair enough given Dick Clerkin's cynicism but the fact that Philip Jordan made them is fairly ironic given his own history.     

Every team and fan should be asking who the ref is. Common enough fact that some refs are better than others. Tell me this would you want Joe McQuillian to ref this game?? I don't think you would. The man cant even spot the double bounce on 3 different occasions.

I think on a normal year I'd be going for tyrone to put monaghan in their place again in croker but this year there is something different about this Monaghan team.

Id say every neutral will be rooting for Monaghan Tyrone and their antics are hard to stomach.

Although both teams play defensive Monaghan tend to kick pass a lot more which is a little easier on the eye.

When people talk about Tyrone's antics and their defensive football it is a clear sign they haven't a clue. Please name one team in the top 6 that have not been involved in some type of cynical play? Tyrone, Dublin, Monaghan, Kerry, Mayo etc all have been at it. Saying Tyrone are worse than other teams really is laughable.

In the last 8 matches Tyrone have averaged 23 points a game. If this is defensive football then I hope it continues for a very long time. There is an article in Tyrone Life today which says that Tyrone are now the 2nd highest scores in All Ireland SFC. 8 games with a total of 182 points only Mayo in 2017 topped them (215 points in 10 games).

Please use facts and examples rather than the usual nonsense that RTE spout.

when people defend tyrone antics its clear they are from tyrone

I am not defending Tyrone I am simply stating facts such as the 2nd highest all times scores. Perhaps if you stated some facts as well it may help your case but I doubt you will.

I think on a normal year I'd be going for tyrone to put monaghan in their place again in croker but this year there is something different about this Monaghan team.

Id say every neutral will be rooting for Monaghan Tyrone and their antics are hard to stomach.

Although both teams play defensive Monaghan tend to kick pass a lot more which is a little easier on the eye.

When people talk about Tyrone's antics and their defensive football it is a clear sign they haven't a clue. Please name one team in the top 6 that have not been involved in some type of cynical play? Tyrone, Dublin, Monaghan, Kerry, Mayo etc all have been at it. Saying Tyrone are worse than other teams really is laughable.

In the last 8 matches Tyrone have averaged 23 points a game. If this is defensive football then I hope it continues for a very long time. There is an article in Tyrone Life today which says that Tyrone are now the 2nd highest scores in All Ireland SFC. 8 games with a total of 182 points only Mayo in 2017 topped them (215 points in 10 games).

Please use facts and examples rather than the usual nonsense that RTE spout.

Mickey is in a difficult position regarding the forwards. Does he start Lee or hold him off until later in the game, this is the big question. Against Monaghan Tyrone can't afford to waste frees, this will be the winning or losing of the game.  Only scenarios as I see it are-

1) Start Mark and Conor as per the Donegal game. If they start scoring early well and good, keep Lee off until 2nd half.

2) Start Mark and Conor as per the Donegal game. If they are not preforming and are missing frees then bring Lee on early, say around the 25 min mark. The danger with this is that if we have missed 3-4 frees by then as per the Donegal game the heads will drop and will give Monaghan a massive boost. If Monaghan get a couple of points lead then Tyrone are in trouble as they would easily surrender it as other teams have.

2) Start Lee and leave either Mark or Conor on the bench. The danger with this is if Lee gets injured or is marked out of it you are then relying on Mark or Conor to come off the bench and change the game. I don't think Conor is that type of player but Mark may potentially be.

I would start Mark and Conor again and bring Lee on early in the first half only if needed. Its important that Mark and Conor run the Monaghan defence around Croke Park as much as possible. Then I would then bring Lee on in the 2nd half and let him torment the Monaghan defence when they are a bit tired.

I think there will only be a few points in it so as I said frees are vital and unfortunately for Tyrone, Monaghan have 2 of the best free takers out there.

Lee Brennan and Mark Bradley played v Monaghan first round of ulster they were poor enough K McGeary played last 25 will also poor enough..... i think v DUBLIN we stumbled across something with 5 minutes to go when we where 7 behind out off pure necessity off giving it a lash.... but who cares how we got it as long as it happens.... yesterday for 45 minutes it was same old crap....then we go 4/5 behind game going away from us then bang we unleashed the hounds again same result dominate the game from then on...

Lee Brennan and Mark Bradley played well against monaghan. Tyrone were a few points in front  when they were on the field. Think none of them last more than 30 minutes due to injury.  Then colm was taken off at half time.

This will be a tight game but I reckon Tyrone may just edge it. If not I will be cheering for monaghan in the final. Truth be told I can't see Dublin losing this year regardless if it's Tyrone or monaghan

Has anyone seen this article-

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/donegal-relegated-referee-colm-cavanagh-tackle-171455

This may have been the case if the pictures didnt show McHugh running towards Colm with the shoulder. Colm didnt have to move out his way. 

donegal were prob the better team for 60 mins yesterday but couldnt sustain the fitness levels required. we are prob 2 or 3 yrs ahead of them in terms of conditioning so again well done to peter donnelly, the real star on the sidelines yesterday.

People seem to be overlooking the fact that Tyrone gift wrapped the goal for Donegal. Tyrone were far the better team up until the 32 min or so. Only for poor shooting (again) they would have been 3-4 points up at half time. Sums up Donegal's season- people thinking they are better than the actually are. Donegal have the making of a very good side but facts are they got relegated from Div 1, won the easiest ulster for years and lost a 4 point lead in the 2nd half against Tyrone. Donegal will be a better side next year I reckon but they have been a bit overhyped this year.

Joe mcquillan was a complete joke today. Never seen a more 1 sided display  in my life. Even the commentators asked how Donegal got a free at the end when colm was fouled.

Are you on the fuckin' windup?

First post and all!

Yes 1st post.....it happens when you post for the 1st time.

Mcquillian didn't black card McHugh which means Donegal wouldn't have scored the goal. He missed at least 1 if not 2 double hops which lead to scores. Last Donegal attach saw colm cavget fouled even commentators said it was a free out, mcquillian gave a free in. Please tell me what I have gotten wrong?

Your use of the English language?

Lol you know you have some one beat when they are correcting grammar. Bar a space I didn't puti n please enlighten me as to my mistakes.

Joe mcquillan was a complete joke today. Never seen a more 1 sided display  in my life. Even the commentators asked how Donegal got a free at the end when colm was fouled.

Are you on the fuckin' windup?

First post and all!

Yes 1st post.....it happens when you post for the 1st time.

Mcquillian didn't black card McHugh which means Donegal wouldn't have scored the goal. He missed at least 1 if not 2 double hops which lead to scores. Last Donegal attach saw colm cavget fouled even commentators said it was a free out, mcquillian gave a free in. Please tell me what I have gotten wrong?

Without wanting to get into a debate as some Tyrone ones don't do reason. In my opinion the tackle you refer to from McHugh was not a black card. It has to be a deliberate trip. I thought it was accidental as he dived to tackle the ball. Obviously the referee thought the same. In the end his opinion is the only one that matters. Cavanagh was lucky not to be sent off. He initiated an incident for which he got a yellow and shortly after could have been black carded. The referee obviously felt the 2 incidents were not worthy of red.

McQuillan is not a great referee in my opinion but he did ok today. With so much gamesmanship in football at the minute the referee has an impossible job.

The linesmem highlighted it to the ref. They obviously thought it was a foul. I'm never said the ref wasnt poor to Donegal the difference was that his poor decisions from a Tyrone point of view led to Donegal scores. Colm should have been black carded but as it was a foul on McHugh I suspect the ref let him away as he knew McHugh should have been black carded in the 1st half.

It's bad when Joe and cooper are pointing out how bad the ref was after the match.

Joe mcquillan was a complete joke today. Never seen a more 1 sided display  in my life. Even the commentators asked how Donegal got a free at the end when colm was fouled.

Are you on the fuckin' windup?

First post and all!

Yes 1st post.....it happens when you post for the 1st time.

Mcquillian didn't black card McHugh which means Donegal wouldn't have scored the goal. He missed at least 1 if not 2 double hops which lead to scores. Last Donegal attach saw colm cavget fouled even commentators said it was a free out, mcquillian gave a free in. Please tell me what I have gotten wrong?

Joe mcquillan was a complete joke today. Never seen a more 1 sided display  in my life. Even the commentators asked how Donegal got a free at the end when colm was fouled.