Attended the game yesterday, few thoughts:
Brian Kennedy was a big standout, he was brilliant. A huge physical presence, took some great clean catches around midfield but was also impressive in his tackling. He stopped Derry moves in their tracks several times.
One thing he probably needs to add to his game is confidence in the final third to drive on and take the score, he has all the ability to power past tackles and set up and easy shot for himself, or even to get through on goal. Not many defenders in the game with the size and strength to stop him. That confidence will hopefully come with experience on down the line you'd imagine.
Peter Harte showed his class when he came on. Went toe-to-toe with McKaigue and got the better of him, and acted as a focal point for the Tyrone attack which it sorely missed in the first half. Combined well with Coney on a number of occasions, a nice throwback to the '08 minor days. Looks to have been working on his free-kicking technique, looked very assured on placed balls.
Coney was good, very positive on the ball, always looking to create something. Frustrating that we won't get to see the full extent of his great range of passing more frequently, such is the cluttered defensive shape that will be adopted by opponents. He got through a mountain of possession and there is a serious improvement in his work rate from his last Tyrone stint.
Poor games from Conall McCann and Cathal McShane, both guilty of handling errors and poor decision-making. Bit puzzling that Harte kept them on long after half-time when we had options on the bench.
Ronan O'Neill a real worry. Seems to be getting a lot of chances so far, he looked off the pace, shipped off at halftime. Would worry for his place in the standing, given McCurry back in the mix and Brennan now arguably the chief scoring forward in the panel.
Another encouraging cameo from Canavan Jr. Showed a bit of guile and trickery to wriggle out of a few tackles and clip over a lovely point. Brave like his auld boy, threw himself into 50/50s and won a few important frees. Very much a boy still, was swallowed up and threw off it a few times, but give him a year under Peter Donnelly and he'll no doubt meet the physical demands of the game. Was receiving a lot of encouragement from the line, notably Gavin Devlin, when involved in good things.
Overall I'd say Mickey Harte would be far from overjoyed with the performance. There were a lot of errors in possession, simple handling and a reticence to shoot when well-placed. Nothing that can't be ironed out.
Brian Kennedy was a big standout, he was brilliant. A huge physical presence, took some great clean catches around midfield but was also impressive in his tackling. He stopped Derry moves in their tracks several times.
One thing he probably needs to add to his game is confidence in the final third to drive on and take the score, he has all the ability to power past tackles and set up and easy shot for himself, or even to get through on goal. Not many defenders in the game with the size and strength to stop him. That confidence will hopefully come with experience on down the line you'd imagine.
Peter Harte showed his class when he came on. Went toe-to-toe with McKaigue and got the better of him, and acted as a focal point for the Tyrone attack which it sorely missed in the first half. Combined well with Coney on a number of occasions, a nice throwback to the '08 minor days. Looks to have been working on his free-kicking technique, looked very assured on placed balls.
Coney was good, very positive on the ball, always looking to create something. Frustrating that we won't get to see the full extent of his great range of passing more frequently, such is the cluttered defensive shape that will be adopted by opponents. He got through a mountain of possession and there is a serious improvement in his work rate from his last Tyrone stint.
Poor games from Conall McCann and Cathal McShane, both guilty of handling errors and poor decision-making. Bit puzzling that Harte kept them on long after half-time when we had options on the bench.
Ronan O'Neill a real worry. Seems to be getting a lot of chances so far, he looked off the pace, shipped off at halftime. Would worry for his place in the standing, given McCurry back in the mix and Brennan now arguably the chief scoring forward in the panel.
Another encouraging cameo from Canavan Jr. Showed a bit of guile and trickery to wriggle out of a few tackles and clip over a lovely point. Brave like his auld boy, threw himself into 50/50s and won a few important frees. Very much a boy still, was swallowed up and threw off it a few times, but give him a year under Peter Donnelly and he'll no doubt meet the physical demands of the game. Was receiving a lot of encouragement from the line, notably Gavin Devlin, when involved in good things.
Overall I'd say Mickey Harte would be far from overjoyed with the performance. There were a lot of errors in possession, simple handling and a reticence to shoot when well-placed. Nothing that can't be ironed out.
