Messages

Should have been black carded in second half. McQuillan bottled it.

McQuillan gave them every possible helping hand he could. Fermanagh couldn't buy a free for blatant fouling, Mayo got a free for any touch and exaggerated contact on every occasion. It's nothing new with Mayo but like Kerry and Dublin, their dark side is very much brushed under the carpet.

Sunday Game boys sitting on the fence, would sicken your hole. Mayo going nowhere anyway but feel sorry for Fermanagh

square ball rule is finished lads unless it is from a free kick or side line ball - maybe I am wrong.

Mackey goal was ok, yes he maybe in the square but it was in open play so no decision to be made. Same applies for Givney 2nd goal the first game, he was in square to fist ball over ONeill but it was in open play.

Maybe congress changed the rules again but this the way I thought it was....

I thought the rule was changed so that from open play you can now enter the small square after the pass is made. It's still a square ball from open play if you're standing in the small square & someone passes to you. Rule used to be you couldn't be inside the small square before the ball - and this still applies from dead-ball situations

I thought the rule was changed so that the Co Board are now fined if anyone outside that 26 named plays

On another note the draw is seriously skewed. Whoever loses on Sunday shouldn't despair - they stay on the A side of the qualifiers. The Ulster Final loser however goes into the B side which includes Cork, Mayo & the loser of Donegal V Monaghan. If they win that game they would then have to play the Dubs in AIQF as there can't be a rematch of the Ulster Final in the AIQF. Even winning Ulster this year will probably mean an AIQF against Mayo or Mon/Don

Richie not even in 26? Must be injured. No Lee Brennan in 26 either

Some nice memories there alright. Funny you mention the Dub comeback in the replay - I'd agree that was the most electric atmosphere I've ever experienced in Croke Park. Was in the Hogan & glanced over at a couple of my uncles who glanced back with the same worried expression as myself. You would have thought the roof was about to come off, think it was also due to the quality of the scores, they all seemed to be absolute belters from distance

AI Semi & final were awesome too. For the final I was sitting in an aisle seat & I've been told I took off down the Hogan steps when Canavan goaled & appeared back up like 1 of the orcs from Lord of the Rings

Amazing summer, great matches & some great nights out afterwards!

I read Jim McGuinness' article in the Irish Times yesterday with great interest:

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jim-mcguinness-the-five-game-plans-needed-to-beat-dublin-1.2674747

To sum up he reckons that teams who aspire to beat Dublin should employ two 'big men' at full forward with a fast, accurate player looping around them. He goes on to mention that Tyrone don't have any and will need to think of something alternative. But is he right? Are there any players that posters think could maybe do a job in full forward against a relatively small Dublin full back line? (Richy Donnelly came to mind for me)

Yes, read that article too & can think of plenty of options Tyrone could try in there - Sean obviously is there already. U could throw in McShane or Matty/Richie. I still remember Matty & McCurry destroying Mayo in Omagh as a 2-man FF line in a league game a few years back. Matty also had ROC on toast in the drawn league game at Croker 2 seasons ago. He'd be my choice as he has great feet as well as the strength. You would probably only do it for say 15-20min periods as you need Matty out the pitch too, but definitely still an option

Lad, living in Dublin I don't get to see any club games.
Just wondering how good do people think Lee Brennan is and will he make a break through this year onto the starting 15 or be a super sub.

I'd say Lee Brennan is there or there abouts our best forward. I think the form of McAliskey, McCurry and O'Neill will keep him off the team for now, but he'll be pushing hard for their spot.

As a side point, the performance of McShane, Richie Donnelly etc will mean the excellent Conor Meyler has to sweat it on the bench for a while.

A good problem to have!

It would be absolutely ideal to have Lee Brennan out of the spotlight until say an AI semi-final & then unleash him on an unsuspecting Mayo or Dublin defence in the wide open confines of Croke Park  

Hate saying it but Tyrone are serious contenders for this years AI title.

Based on?

Based on the last 12 months, from what I've seen myself and with the addition of a number of young players. I can see a Dublin v Tyrone AI final, for me they are Dublins main rivals this year.

Question - who have Tyrone beaten to be installed as Dublin's main rivals?

Is there anyone in there who are even among the dark horses for the championship?
(Monaghan who Tyrone beat last year at currently 40/1 shots)

Considering they played in div 2 it's not real a relevant question. Using last years AI semi final against Kerry as a yardstick there wasn't much between the 2 sides and Kerry are an ageing team whilst Tyrone are a young improving team.

Have Tyrone beaten Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Mayo or Dublin in the last 12 months? Where is the case for being so very over optimistic? Do you rate the teams in Division Two that much? Do you rate beating Derry by so much an accomplishment? Look Tyrone will be a handful for who ever they meet. But one day at a time before you talk of AI contenders.

Tyrone beat Mayo away in Div1 just over 12 months ago, they also drew with Kerry & Dublin & should have beat the Dubs but for a late fisted goal. They were level with Kerry in the AI semi-final with 10mins to go & had the chances to have won that game. They have been in 2 AI semi's in the last 3 years. Unlike Mayo if they do reach a final they know how to win. They are AI contenders

As neither Rory or Justy are in the 26 that means they are definitely out. The bench suddenly looks a little threadbare too! Coupled with the weather forecast my optimism levels are beginning to drop 

Sludden in at 6, Richie Donnelly and McShane at 10 and 12.
Big physical team..
No Morgan

Justy & Rory big losses if not fit. Hard to see McShane starting when he's hardly had a look-in during the league. More likely Mickey will start someone like Tierney or McGeary

Right, cutting out all the bullshit - Tyrone to win this by at least 8 points!

Fair play for at least one of you having a set of balls!!

Weather forecast isn't looking good so could see this turning into a low-scoring, tight, niggly affair

Surely Derry will come out fired up but hopefully once the initial storm is weathered & the game settles down Tyrone's better balanced team & system will win through - Tyrone by 4 

i beg to disagree re mcaliskey and mccurry. they are both flat track bullies the likes of tipperary and sligo made both of them look good last year. both of them are way too selfish. put a few wonder scores on the board and thats it. mcaliskey plays for himself and mc curry is at best an impact sub. when the chips are down neither of these two have the cahones. i watched mccaliskey two years ago aginst dromore have an unbelievable first 7 minutes kick 4 points albeit wind assisted in the championship. then low and behold red sean was asked to do a wee marking job and the skeet man disappeared as did clonoe. lee breenan and ronan o neill have both shown what a proper natural forward looks like and neither of them lack the round boys. cant have big shawn wee dazzler and skeet in the one line and expect to win ball against the mcgees/mcgrath or the wylies/walsh because ulster will come down to that again. Brennan and o neill for me every time. nice to see positive comments re ronans celebration i suppose when his play cant be criticised haters have to hate something else.

McAliskey is not a flat-track bully - sure he scored 3 points from play in Ballybofey last year in 1st round of the championship

The half forward line would seem to be the only area of the pitch where places are really up for grabs at the minute. Peter Harte has one of those places nailed down with Meyler, Bradley, Sludden and Richie Donnely fighting it out for the other two spots. Also one of the half back line positions up for grabs with Justy, Tierney and Sludden in a battle for it - think we're a much more solid and balanced side with Justy at 6 and we will need his size there against the big Derry forwards. Also a place at corner forward between Brennan, McCurry and O'Neill.

Think the team will be something like:

1. O'Neill
2. McCrory
3. McNamee
4. McCarron
5. Brennan
6. Justy
7. McCann
8. Colm Cav
9. Mattie Donnelly
10. Meyler
11. Harte
12. Richie Donnelly
13. McAliskey
14. Sean Cav
15. O'Neill

Agreed, this would be my starting XV also. I don't think there's much up for discussion. Richie Donnelly surely did enough during the league to warrant a start, especially the way he played against Derry in Omagh. Surprised he didn't start against Cavan in Croker, maybe Mickey wanted to check on other options. Wasn't impressed with Bradley on Sunday, but he's a good option off the bench along with the likes of McCurry, Lee Brennan, Tiernay, Sludden, McNulty, McGeary's

RTE were initially calling it as Monaghan being relegated. What a pack of morons, surely it's your job to know the permutations, u had all week to prepare.

Poor from Tyrone, 4pts up with 2mins left against 14 men. How did RON miss that 21 yard free?? Doesn't matter that this was not an important game for Tyrone, it's not good enough. A disinterested Dublin beat Donegal by 6pts, Tyrone are way off the mark required