Messages

Does every club have floodlights

No. Infact very few do.

i was thinking about this also, does this mean there will be no friday night championship games this season... I can't see the use of the athletic grounds being a go-to option

Depends really, Fintona and the Dungannon Hurling pitch last year were really the saviours of the Championship. This year could be different with the lack of qualifiers maybe easing up the club calender but you would still have to expect Senior Championship will not be to September no matter how Tyrone do so I would expect any Friday night game to be at either of those locations. We might return to the days of 4 games Saturday and the same Sunday.

I don't think Healy park is closing now this season, change of plans, but time will tell

What a load of shite. AFL is an incredibly physical game, Gaelic football doesn't compare in that regard. Completely different game and different fitness required. Gaa would be quicker and more twisting and turning. AFL games regularly last over 100 mins and the ground is massive. It's a much more lung busting run type sport. They cover crazy kilometres throughout games. The skills levels would be much higher in GAA as well. I could see McKenna playing CHB or somewhere like that now. Even midfield as he will be extremely fit and used to getting up and down the ground.

AFL players average running distance is 13k (Just done research on google them on distances posted by the teams), the same for intercounty game is averge 13k but intercounty is done in less time...
AFL is an incredibly physical game - Obv it is im not doubting that but so is Gaa, McKenna will be likened to Caolan Mooney, same build and speed! Some say Mooney didn't make but he played 2 season with Collingwood who where one of the top teams in the AFL

Why is he home? Unless there is a private matter then surely he will be away back to Oz in a month or 2. Joining the real world of work and fitting in football and shite weather in Ireland might cure his homesickness.

Eglish matters. And Tyrone. He can go back once the ultimate prize in his life is won.

He must be on a £100k a year over there at least. It's hard to even know if he will be any use now and where would he play?

If he is homesick and restless, the money won't be an issue. Dont think it's hard to imagine hime re-adjusting given that Marty Clarke and Kennelly both did rightly on their return.
He's now a professional athlete - his youtube content is unreal and based on that alone there could be any n umber of options for later this year or definitely next

YouTube content at a different sport means nothing! Yes a brilliant talent and can still be worked with but he needs time, I don't see him establishing himself on the Tyrone team this season, maybe not even next season, but everyone talking about how physical he is, Gaa now is as much physical as AFL, if not more, AFL isn't the game it used to be years ago due to health and safety on tackles and no shoulders barges etc like what you can get in Gaa, he's no bigger than any other man on the Tyrone set up, I cud name 10/15 men on the Tyrone team who are physically bigger than him,and lets not forget Tyrone players are practically training as pros aswel, probably even fitter than McKenna! so please give him time to adjust, because its us the supporters who cud ruin him with too much hype and pressure!!
And everyone sayin "Oh he was a brilliant minor", well to this day Kyle Coney is the best minor I've ever saw, doesn't mean he's guna turn into a superstar senior player! Rant over!!

Fantastic news for Tyrone Gaa that Cathal has accepted the offer to stay,
The only problem is that I hope this wont have an effect on Conor McKenna now when he comes home, he's surely hold the County to Ransom aswel for a few incentives

McShane back out training tonight,wonder will Harte throw him straight back in against Kerry!!

so is he staying for good?

Heard today that Harte met with him last week alongside 2 Club Tyrone sponsors, apparently got a big job offered to him in Keystone, a site to build on and some cash!!
I still think he'd be mad to accept it and miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime but we'll know soon enuf

McShane back out training tonight,wonder will Harte throw him straight back in against Kerry!!

Tyrone/Donegal games should be tasty this year. Shots been fired by Mc namee and harte, Barry Monaghan with a shot back.

Whats been said??

Some shit wrote on this on as who right and whos wrong, at the end of the day reserve football isn't working at the minute and "big" changes need to be made,end of the day its all a trial to see if there is improvement and if Monday proves its only 1% better then lets go ahead with it, in saying this I believe it doesn't have to be Mondays as why not just put the reserves on at 2 on a Sunday if there's no seniors on anyway but I still wont complain when ever it is! Id imagine most reserve players wudnt mind it being separate from the seniors for sure anyway, how many reserves players enjoy watching the senior management heading in with the senior team at half time of their game and then doing a warm up during the second half of the reserve game, known they aren't even watching how your performing? Even some of the crowd in the stand watch the seniors warm up to get a glimpse of what the senior team might and whos fit etc rather than watching the reserve game! Also decoupling it means the seniors management will actually be able to watch a full reserve game meaning players will give full efforts for a full 60 mins knowing the managements have eyes on them!!

[I am sure most would agree it's a much greater achievement to win a junior league with your club than jumping ship to play a higher level]

I expect most club footballers have the ambition to play senior football, I can't think of too many who take the easy way out and do it by transferring clubs! Sounds like the man in question is very much about himself, BG_Gael.

Very fair comment. I was only going on the original clogher poster who said it was a transfer that didn't work out.

If my memory serves right Augher were an intermediate team when Darragh joined? So I don't think he went directly to playing Division 1 football from Division 3. Easy way or not isnt my point though. The clogher poster has said it hasn't worked out, but clearly it has and they just are bitter or have sour grapes with it.

I wonder how bitter they are about players who have transferred the other way and would they say their transfers have worked out?

He left to join Augher directly after they won their play offs to go up to senior. Yes he did play a few years of senior football and a few in intermediate, with no medals to show for it. The Clogher players have a junior league medal to look back on and I am sure most would agree it's a much greater achievement to win a junior league with your club than jumping ship to play a higher level of football and winning a few individual awards along the way. With regards to calling it a failed transfer, this year Clogher finished higher in intermediate league, beat Augher and he has won no medals with his club(s), most certainly wouldn't call it a success story anyway.

No they wouldn't. It may give most people a greater sense of satisfaction winning a junior league, but it is certainly not 'a much greater achievement'. Surviving in Division 2 is a greater achievement than winning a Junior league.

I would agree here, playing Div 1 ball is a much bigger achievement that winning a Junior league tbf

Experience tells me nothing good will come of this transfer.

do you have any examples of club transfers that worked out poorly? not being cheeky, im genuinely interested, always found club transfers to be a strange occurrence

I'm not gonna name names but I've seen a few in my time and the player leaving usually the club wants rid, or the guy joining isn't really as good or committed as the club thought.
Only in the circumstance someone is moving as they are genuinely leaving for work or travel reasons in that instance they tend to work out a little less shit.

Penrose transfer worked out well for him, albeit he never won a senior championship but has been one of the best club players in his time and still is going by last years championship performances!

Galbally will do alright in D1 lads. It looks like it could be one of the most competitive D1 in awhile.

A bad start will see you in a tricky enough place coming into Championship football. I'd say Carrickmore and Ardboe especially will come out of the gates flying this year, they can't afford to get into a scrap near the bottom.

Moy will be the team people look to pick on this year I'd say, especially with Colm Cavanagh going back to the county set up and Harry Loughran injured - themselves and Derrylaughan will need a massive pre season. Donaghmore continually manage to get themselves safe and into the middle of the table year on year despite never really kicking on, they didn't look overly good anytime I've seen them / played against them over last 2/3 years.

I agree but I think galbally will be in the lower half of the table. still a very young side and 2 of their best players in the county setup will not help. Massive step up from division 2 as proven so many times - cookstown,eglish to name 2. There is probably anything from 4/5 teams who could win the league and anything from 5/6 teams who could struggle. Not many inbetween

Good point, Galbally act have 3 on the Senior set up now, Quinn/Kerr and Rafferty. Starred games going to be very difficult and I can see them losing all of them as it could take them a few years to adjust to life without 3 important regulars

Why would they not have been favoured?
They won the minor championship and league at the same age group and so many of them have senior experience.
I would have been disappointed had we not won it.

Who are the ones who have a lot of senior experience? Excluding Monroe & Daly, I can't think of any more really?

Sean Donnelly, Ruairi Slane, and Tiarnan Murray all have a lot of senior experience although Wee Roddy didn't mention the words a lot.  James McGurk, Rory Donnelly, Lorcan McBride, Ciaran Cuddy, Oran Mckee, Conor Loughran have all got senior football at some stage this past couple of years.

Talk sense, most of them lads haven't played 60 minutes. Tiarnan Murray probably the most experience in that list. Should Carrickmore not be giving these men more chances in the seniors and maybe build a bit of consistency in the league

7 of them have played more than 60 minutes.  You keep to your intermediate football. We seen the standard that is when quite a few of starters from Galbally met us in the u21s.  A new county player limping off after 20 minutes holding his hamstring after getting a roasting by a 17 year old cub.  Then reappeared for the second half with his hamstring mended.  Quite embarrassing.

The same 17 year old cub probably won't get a crack at the whip because the over 40s on your team refuse to move on, and nobody has the balls to drop them because they won an all ireland or two 10-15 years ago.

Oh, don't you worry, the 17 year cub will be getting crack at it.  We can rebuild without dropping to intermediate football.

there will be some craic on here when yous play in the league and them two men get to mark each other again 

as for the comment about the over 40s... I would dare to say that gormley and penrose would start for a majority of D1 teams, im guessing a lot of people on here would agree

Not a chance, wouldnt make it on any team in the top 8 or 9. Carmen can keepem

Disagree here, maybe top 2/3 teams but Penrose and Gormley would still get on a majority of teams, Outside of Murray then Gormley and Penrose are Carmens 2 most influencial players maybe with Mickey Donaghy also, we all seen that in there championship games this season, Penrose was a level above everyone in the Edendork game except maybe McCurry who hit a bagful, without those 2 men then Carmen would be in a dog fight to stay up! Personally id love to see them play their young fella to end the argument, don't get me wrong, great young players but just not near ready yet for senior football, experience is massive at the highest level

Heard its Urney.

Don't think so, they held their AGM at the wkend at talked about plans for the future..

Anyone else confirmed at this stage?
    Aghaloo O'Neills GAC -Micky Donnelly
    Aghyaran St. Davog's GAC
    Ardboe O'Donovan Rossa GAC - Fabian Muldoon
    Augher St. Macartan's GAC
    Beragh Red Knights GAC - Ryan McCloskey
    Brackaville Owen Roes GFC - Justin Corr
    Carrickmore St. Colmcille's GAC - Ryan Daly
    Castlederg St. Eugene's GAC
    Clann na nGael GAA
    Clogher Éire Óg GAC
    Clonoe O'Rahilly's GAC Stephen McDonnell
    Coalisland Na Fianna GAC Damien O'Hagan
    Cookstown Fr. Rock's GAC
    Derrylaughan Kevin Barrys GAC Kevin Coary
    Derrytresk Fir An Chnoic GAC Paul Hughes
    Donaghmore St. Patrick's GAC
    Dregish Pearse Og GAC
    Dromore St. Dympna's GAC - Colm McCullagh
    Drumquin Wolfe Tones GAC
    Dungannon Thomas Clarkes GAC - Collie Holmes
    Edendork St. Malachy's GAC - Lorcan Martin
    Eglish St. Patrick's GAC
    Errigal Ciarán GAC- Johnny McBride
    Errigal Ciarãn 3 GAC
    Eskra Emmetts GAC - Gerry Donnelly
    Fintona Pearses GAC
    Galbally Pearses GAC - John Moylan
    Glenelly St. Joseph's GAC - Dermot Corry
    Gortin St. Patrick's GAC
    Greencastle, St Patrick's GAC - Sean Teague
    Kildress Wolfe Tones GAC - Tony Scullion
    Killeeshil St. Mary's GAC
    Killyclogher St. Mary's GAC
    Killyman St. Mary's GAC
    Loughmacrory St. Teresa's GAC
    Moortown St. Malachy's GAC - Stephen McHugh and Stephen Ferguson
    Moy Tír Na nÓg GAC - Sean Cavanagh
    Newtownstewart St. Eugene's GAC
    Naomh Eoghan
    Omagh St. Enda's GAC Carl McCabe
    Owen Roe O'Neill's GAC Barry Tracey
    Pomeroy Plunketts GAC Brian McGuckin
    Rock St. Patrick's GAC - Martin Hackett
    Stewartstown Harps GAC Fergal Logan
    Strabane Sigersons GAC
    Tattyreagh St. Patrick's GAC
    Trillick St. Macartan's GAC Nigel Seaney, Liam Donnelly
    Urney St. Columba's GAC

Bit surprised Omagh are staying the same next year. Was it not a poor enough one for them?

It was a poor enough year for everyone in senior bar trillick.
Carl deserves another go

The Trumpet remembers correctly that Trillick did not qualify for the league.

Silly statement, I don't think Trillick fielded for 3 of there last 3 games, jst checked on Tyronegaa.ie and they lost to Eglish, Drew with Moy and lost to Killyclogher, had they lost against Errigal they would have qualified in place of Errigal as Errigal probably in the top 4, any team who wins the championship doesn't care then about the league

[Any word on Lee Brennan, I was very disappointed with the manner he left the team in last year so could understand if Harte hasn't given him the recall.]

what about this Niall Gavin lad from Derrytresk? I see he's scooped top scorer a few seasons now..what age is he?

he must be 100

He was a Tyrone Minor in 2009. So hes around 27/28.

Harte wont pick him then, the squad isn't picked on quality unfortunately, its picked on mainly you must be under a certain age and have potentional!
Ive been sayin it for years as most the county know, Mackers has to be on it if you want immediate improvement on the squad! In 2017 Conor O'Donnell was the best player in the county and shuda been on it the following year and wasn't, even now he's still Omagh's best player and instead RON is back on it

Would Mackers and O'Donnell have joined the panel if asked and would they have committed to sticking at it for a couple of years? There's a reason Harte's policy is to mainly introduce young players with potential and that's because, even for the likes of these two who are stand out performers at club level, county football is a serious step up. It's rare to find someone who takes to it like a duck to water and has an exceptional first year. Therefore, it would not make sense for Harte to invite someone around the age of 30 to join the panel only for them to throw the head up and leave if they aren't a regular starter in their first year.

For what it's worth Coney (age 28/29) and Grugan (27) were both called up last year and my understanding is they will be back this season. So if they are good enough and prepared to stick at it they will get their chance to join the panel. I'd like to think Grugan will push on this year also, he had a few injury problems last year which didn't help his progress but did well in the Dublin game I thought and was impressive in the club championship when I saw him.

Would agree with this.

Hopefully Coney and Grugan can make an impression this year.

I'm surprised to see O'Neill back, very much thought that his ship had sailed at intercounty level. I think he badly struggles with the physicality and athleticism required at this level but hopefully if he is back then he can add something extra.

Any word on Lee Brennan, I was very disappointed with the manner he left the team in last year so could understand if Harte hasn't given him the recall.

[/b]

Brennan left in the same manner as previous players like McCurry, Coney, Grugan and Oneil

Incorrect, Brennan left mid Championship. Grugan had opted out at the start of the year when he left. Coney walked after the McKenna Cup and both O'Neill and McCurry left after the league. O'Neill's decision was very much an amicable one which he discussed with his manager before opting out.

Ok it is a bit different then, but hardly mattered if mid championship or not when your not involved, different if your a starting player and you walk away, he wasn't getting a look in at any game time at the time, and Im sure Harte wasn't too bothered. Also people speak of the manner he left, maybe he wasn't enjoying it, maybe things in life where hard to handle like with studys, sitting on a bench all the time, missing club football, sitting in at wkends when your club mates are getting to go out, we are all very quick to jump on mens back when different things could be running through their heads, I say fair play to him for walking away from it and leaving to improve. There are men there who we all know aren't not up to it or never will be and they need to go, maybe a few years away for some could help them