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[Coalisland]

I suppose whats a championship draw without an early season prediction.

Senior Championship First Round

Clonoe v Coalisland

Moy v Derrylaughan

Galbally v Trillick

Killyclogher v Carrickmore

Loughmacrory v Dungannon

Ardboe v Donaghmore

Errigal Ciaran v Pomeroy

Omagh v Dromore

Hard to beat an early prediction.

Semi finals:
Coalisland v Trillick
Errigal v Dungannon

With a repeat of last year's final.

Semi Finals
Clonoe vCarrickmore
Loughmacrory v Omagh

Final
Carrickmore v Loughmacrory 
To be played in Carrickmore also

With more than 30 players sent off.

Don't be losing the run of yourselves boys, it sounds like some isn't well from the statement just. Be hard being away in those circumtances

Who knows?

But McKenna has always admitted to being homesick.

He's probably seen McShane being rewarded for staying put and looked after and maybe he feels he'd rather be back home playing the game he loves and he could be well looked after for doing so.

I hope everything is ok in the lad's personal life.

If he's coming home for good and he's ready to join up with the team then it changes absolutely everything for our prospects in this summer's championship.

McShane is being well rewarded relative to the others on the squad. I would be confident that this is well below McKennas salary in Australia.

Still don't think his return (if that is even the case) would get us past Kerry or Dublin, but a big improvement regardless.

how will senior championship work will it be 12 teams from 1a intermediate champions and 3 teams from 1b

I would imagine that the 3 or 4 teams from 1B, given the lower standard of opposition all year, will be at a big disadvantage in the championship when up against 1A opposition. This is the main downside to the new proposals. Also, not sure how it will be determined which of the teams from 1B qualify for the senior championship?

McDonnell and grugan actually bossed midfield area in first half last night against two Armagh starters. McDonnell showed great pace bursting forward though was wasteful. Wouldn't shock me if like others before he went on to become a decent county player at some point despite online criticism from boys who don't even go to games.

He may become a good county player but would he get this opportunity to become a good county player if he wasn't from Errigal?  There was plenty of players down through the years with great ability that won't afforded this luxury of getting time to prove their worth.

Colm Cavanagh and Cathal McShane are two non Errigal players given the opportunity over a number of years when many had it in for them saying they shouldn't be near the team. Many people have had issues with the chances given to Conall McCann for example. There are numerous other non Errigal players who's inclusion have been questioned at times.

Using Errigal to beat these young lads with is very unfair.

Conall McCann is the worst county footballer Tyrone has ever had.. Id give some of the errigal thirds a run before him

I think he has won man of the match awards playing for Tyrone. Maybe not thee worst.

Did Conall McCann not win Man of the Match vs Derry in Ulster Championship a few years ago? Fully merits his place on the squad IMO. Who would you pick on the panel instead of him (genuinely interested)?

[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.

[Two best teams in the final]

I think topofthesoil might be saying these things for a reaction....

Two best teams in the final - should be a good one, expecting Trillick to go on and do it from here but you get the feeling Errigal need it more.

Coalisland looked a tired team at the end of the game yesturday. Might be the end for a few of their elder players. Lee Brennan display of place kicking was the difference in the end.

Dont agree with that, trillick are a team filled with hot air. Errigal are good but not great, both wont do a tap in ulster.

Ironic.

[Coalisland/Errigal/Trillick/Carmen to be the last four with everyone hoping to get Carrickmore?]

Anyway....

Are the Quarter Finals all as straightforward as expected?

Coalisland/Errigal/Trillick/Carmen to be the last four with everyone hoping to get Carrickmore?

Omagh and Edendork most likely to catch Errigal / Carmen on the hop?

That's how I see it too. Although, there's usually at least one upset per round.

Big news coming out of Killyclogher camp - Sparky Bradley stuck in USA due to storms, Tee McCann injured (spotted in Portugal this week).

I wouldnt believe everything you hear fella, 'a storm' otherwise known as a hurricane. Sparky be home before saturday and likewise Tee McCann.
Keep your focus and sources on kildress

Hard to imagine any player coming home the week before the senior championship after a year away and be included in the squad let alone playing.

What's happened the streaming video service from last year? I thought it worked well but nothing this year, not a dicky-bird.

Some issue with rights is there not?

Official Tyrone GAA Instagram page last night announced their launch of Tyrone GAA Radio & TV in association with Todds Leap

Would TeamTalk not have this sorted? Is there some reason County Board need to start this service also?

Think its a disgrace that reserve players are being asked to play at 2pm on a saturday, Owen rose having to travel to galbally beragh having to travel to strabane and brocagh having to travel to brackaville no thought for the club player

Don't understand all the pearl clutching about Saturday fixtures. Most people don't work on Saturdays and better than playing no fixture. Games earlier in the day at least let players avail of a night out.

Tyrone players went on some rip in Monaghan on Saturday night!

And what??

Don't see anything wrong with that after a match.

[skilful forwards is something Tyrone have to a point of saturation right now]

Watched kavanagh play on several occassions when Augher were in grade 1. He didnt give some of the best defenders at club level too much difficulty let alone county level. Decent player though the kind that could rack up a good score against a team bottom of div 2

fair point but was probably only 20 when augher were in div 1 last. In my opinion a far better footballer now. A

With all due respect I think it would have been a waste of time. I don't think he offers us anything we don't have there already. I think Emmet McNabb has a bit more than Kavanagh but light, skilful forwards is something Tyrone have to a point of saturation right now and the modern game does not really cater for them.

With regards Canavan, he is one for the future and I'm happy he has reverted back to the u20s. Hopefully the few months he and Murnaghan had with the senior side this year will aid their development.

Who would want skillful forwards...

Unless they carry the physical presence and pace then they are wasting their time. See the likes of Ronan O'Neill and how obsolete his type of player now is.

Stick to rugby then. I'd have Ronan O'Neill on my squad any day.

[skilful forwards is something Tyrone have to a point of saturation right now]

Watched kavanagh play on several occassions when Augher were in grade 1. He didnt give some of the best defenders at club level too much difficulty let alone county level. Decent player though the kind that could rack up a good score against a team bottom of div 2

fair point but was probably only 20 when augher were in div 1 last. In my opinion a far better footballer now. A

With all due respect I think it would have been a waste of time. I don't think he offers us anything we don't have there already. I think Emmet McNabb has a bit more than Kavanagh but light, skilful forwards is something Tyrone have to a point of saturation right now and the modern game does not really cater for them.

With regards Canavan, he is one for the future and I'm happy he has reverted back to the u20s. Hopefully the few months he and Murnaghan had with the senior side this year will aid their development.

Who would want skillful forwards...

Jesus I thought there would be no gravy left after Dom they must have struck gold

Dalradian!

The Lough have no wins over us at senior level. We won the minor championship 3 years ago and have won the past 2 Under 16 County titles but that may count for very little. Our underage is stronger across the board than it ever has been in the past five years. Would i be right in saying that the vast majority of Loughmacrorys young players at senior level were playing on a minor side that got beat by Carmen in a couple of great league games that year?

May count for very little as those minors are 21 now so if they can't do it now they never will.  If my memory is correct we won a minor championship in 2006 and by 2010 8/9 played and won the senior championship that year.

I think we had 7 of the minor team who won that played against Errigal in the championship this year so it is a fairly high turnover. The problem is we completely are missing a middle age. The older lads who are still doing well but we have virtually no mid to late 20s who are doing anything consistent, compared t oother senior teams who have the likes of Petey Harte, Stephen McNallys, Ronan O'Neills etc. Anyone wh ois any good is either retired because of injuries

Finally someone speaking sense. You typically need 3 age groups well represented in a winning championship team, 2 or 3 18-21 year olds, 4-8 21-29 year olds, then the rest the experienced old hands. Carrickmore are struggling because of the 21-29 year olds. Coalisland have a perfect mix at present, as did the great Dromore team of 10 years ago. Taking this formula into consideration what teams are properly set up? Killyclogher appear to be on the wane because of their older men, Trillick and Clonoe the same. Who are we looking at then?

Errigal