Messages

Pitch was lovely
Louth were terrible.
Tyrone showed glimpses but as JB says maybe theres only glimpses left.
This was not a competitive game at all, so judge it as that.
Changes neede for next day needed.  Justin poor, Bring in Joe.   Davy Poor Bring in Mc Caul for serious pace.
Midfield - Mellon and Sean
half forward line.  Move Brian from 11,  its too demanding for him maybe swith Tommy in there
Ff Line move Mc Ginley in as third midfielder, Mc Cullough and Colum Cavanagh / Mulligan.

Would I be right in saying this is not the first time these guys have called it a day or had retirement threads written about them.  They were two very good servants for Meath football, fine charismatic footballers and their careers lasted longers than the others from their 2 all Ireland wins in the 1990s, as a Tyrone man the image of Geraghty in 96 skipping up the wing  away from  Logan and Mc Garrity  in particular will haunt me till I stop watching football.   Some good points there about Boylan staying too long, but surely theres a case for a return.  Is there also an arguement that too many players stay too long for their own and their countys good. 

Mc Donnell the footballer was hot yesterday, Mc Donnell the manager had a stinker, ran the bench and nearly cost Armagh an Ulster title.  The Goalkeepers duel with MC Donnell was embarassing.     

AI prediction
My favourites: Dubs / Cork
Equivalent chances: Armagh, Tyrone, Kerry, Galway.
Its there to play for:

Poor game of football, last 20 minutes provided great excitement though.  Ref robbed Fermanagh.  Armagh are no better  than Tyrone this year ... or any year.  They are no closer to Sam than Tyrone at the moment.  All to play for.  if Armagh win the next day it will be the second time in 4 yeas that officialdom has give Armagh an Ulster championship final.

"If Cavanagh lines out at full forward then Mickey has to make it clear to players like Harte,Jordan,Dooher to kick the ball in early. There's no point Cavanagh standing up there if the ball isnt coming in. I felt at times players out the field took to much out of the ball in Newry. Having said that its important that the ball is played in front of Cavanagh for him to run onto and not kicked in high with no direction." TD
Agreed 100%

I think theres a certain element of entrepreneurial luck attached to these teams.  If Monroe won an AI then hes entitled to move with that team up the ladder to under 21 level.  If he achieves at that level well then I think the apprenticeship has been well served and he deserves a chance at top dog with that team.  I think that Harte grew after 97 with that team, previous poor seasons went out the window.  He developed with the team and came through with his under 21s and then seniors, whatever magic Mickey has with his teams  its hard to define, similarly when the chemistry goes it becomes harder to realise what is missing.  Tyrone football made a mistake in the 90s by not bringing Danny Ball through until his players  were shot, having been  beat out the doors of Croke Park twice.  Mickey knew it was his era -fought for his chance, got it, justified it twice and now must see his team getting slower and older and relaise that his era may now be waning.  Regardless of when Mickey decides he needs to go I have no doubt he will take another Tyrone team infuse them with his magic and take them through to sucess again. The same should happen to any minor or under 21 management that delivers at both levels.   If they cant deliver say for example with an under 21 team what they delivered at minor level then they are certainly not fit for an additional step up.  Let monroe win or lose this year before we make our decisions but he and his team must deliver.

Mickey has just shuffled the deck there and on paper its not a bad team but I fear that Mickeys perseverence with Tyrones half back line which was the fulcrum of their all ireland successes but now lacks a yard or two will ultimately cost Tyrone dearly.  This was the chance to make a serious change or two at injecting new pace in there  and maybe not pay the ultimate price. After 4 weeks to come up with a new formula I must admit to being a little disappointed  Despite our frustrations in a way ye have to hand it to Mickey by God he sticks by his guns, but hes making a big unbreakable rod for himself and some of that much dreaded criticism by hoping that the problem will only heal itself and not by making what others deem to be essential managerial decisions.    They used to say the first sign of madness was repeating an action and expecting a different result.  

Tom Humphries is genius scribe level and I normally like his pennings.  I dont like this, I find it hard going and my mind wondered at least 3 times....Get on with it!  Archer is hungry as the underdog but has passed each test this year and whilst that performance would not win a final,  I would appeal to T Hawkins (IN Sports editor) to give Archer a week or twos fully paid holiday to give him the creative time needed to land the big prize. At the moment its good enough to get him just to the final but he may need some serious literati dieticians, onamatapaiea stats men and 2 beautiful thai word masseurs for the final.  Could be a great team effort if he wins.  Good on ye  Sir Archer!   

Listen I would go by Peter O Donnells theory that fans, players and management are and need to be very different animals.  The players need to be focussed on their game plan and nothing else at the moment.     

I have a problem with different or alternate opinion being regarded as criticism.  Some people I know think Mickey should move aside and they have apparently very valid reasons for doing so.  Thats their opinion if Tyrone achieve a level that they are capable of this year then Mickey has proven their opinion wrong, but at this stage their opinions needs proving wrong.  I dont think there is any reason for Big Sean to be criticising the field, talking up the manager and criticising the fans on a holiday week before a big game - Blame those who schedule games during a holiday period.   If these comments are his own, and to be fair I doubt it,   I would be concerned and if hes being managed he should be told to stop talking keek.     

Rois, thanks again - just secured a ticket there. 

Is there a good GAA pub to go to before the game in the vicinity?  A place to fuel our passions.  I remember attending Tyrone Louth games in Drogheda in division 3 in the early 90s.  In one Tyrone went 7 up and then Louth came back and bate us, the bould Pat Butterley playing for Louth.  a youthful Peter Canavan playing for tyrone.     

How does a man find a woman like ye.  Name yer perch, yer time and Ill be there.   

As Meath men descended on sweet Limerick town
desperate to save their season
victims of a wexford revolution
that seemed to defy all reason

On Sunday morn as they read the news
the headlines confirmed their fears
the leader was a Limerick man
and Proud Meath were reduced to tears.

Round 1 goes to Louth.  Sean would be safer being gagged in the week before big games. 
Whats the chances of tickets outside the ground.  Need ticket!