Messages

[M Donnelly (temporary solution to try and hold middle)]

I'd go with something like this:

N Morgan
A Clark (probably have to pick up McGuigan)
R Brennan
J Clarke
R Cassidy
M Donnelly (temporary solution to try and hold middle)
M McKernan
C Kilpatrick
B Kennedy
C O'Neill
J Oguz
C Daly
M Conroy
E McElholm
E Jordan

Hold Canavan back as not up to fitness yet and McElholm might not have 70 minutes in it.

Who do you consider the best option to play 6 and hold the middle this year?

Id have Teague at 6

Derry v Tyrone - Tyrone by 5
Cavan v Meath - Meath by 8
Louth v Cork - Louth by 1
Kildare v Offaly - Kildare by 4

Hard to even pick a 15

As said before Ronan Cassidy, Conor O'Neill and Joey Clarke are key men for Queens tonight. It would be unfair to start any of them on Saturday
McKernan looked concussed last week. I don't think he should have been allowed to continue. Lets see if hes available a week later!

Equally after Saturdays game Malachy alluded to us having a few more men available for this week.
Im hoping he was referring to Hampsey, Teague, Jones

Jones? Hes been about the panel for years, can he make an impact at county level?

Certainly wasnt on the panel last year. Caught my eye just in the club championship.

Hard to even pick a 15

As said before Ronan Cassidy, Conor O'Neill and Joey Clarke are key men for Queens tonight. It would be unfair to start any of them on Saturday
McKernan looked concussed last week. I don't think he should have been allowed to continue. Lets see if hes available a week later!

Equally after Saturdays game Malachy alluded to us having a few more men available for this week.
Im hoping he was referring to Hampsey, Teague, Jones

Pitch in great nick.
Pleasant surprise

Has everyone released their lineups for the games this weekend apart from us lol? Why does it take so long for us to release it does anyone know?

It's so dumb

Like the squad list was given to the printers yesterday for the match day programme

Idiocy

Most of the injured contingent did a decent workout in Pomeroy prior to the Down game. You'd have to imagine at least some of those will be available at the weekend and return to the 26.

Equally with the Bel-classico tomorrow night there will be a strong Tyrone influence. Hoping for no injuries.

Unfortunately we probably wont know who is available until Saturday afternoon.

Hear McGeary from Moy has declared for Armagh U20s. Two Armagh families, surprised he ever got involved with Tyrone.

That's interesting, played minor for Tyrone.

Tyrone have the talent. Tomorrow should be a walk in the park and the final will be easier.(Nobody gives a f*ck about mckenna cup) Tyrone have all the right things in place the last thing we want to do now is pick up injuries. Which is IMO the only thing that could jeopardise Tyrone having a great year. A lot of pressure on Peter Hughes now in charge of 35-45 players... tough job. Would need 5 men with him alongside doctors, physio and masseuses. Two hamstrings in 15 mins into second game isn't great. MOR has to be careful. Will see what his mentality is like if he risks it for McKenna cup. Should be keeping his cards tight to his chest for another two weeks. 

So much football on heavy pitches, coming off the back of a lay off. Recipe for disaster

Id rather get beat by point and pick up no injuries, than win with an injury concern.
We could probably do without a McKenna cup final likely against Donegal on Saturday evening.
 
Lock in now on Kildare. Derry the week after. Need two wins.

For me, only Darragh and McElholm are nailed on starters. The other 4 positions are up for grabs because of the amount of genuine quality options that are available

Id say it depends as much on tactics, as well as chemistry & balance on the team, for the remaining spots

Last year our full forward line didn't really function as we would have hoped. Philly McMahon summed it up best when he said that despite winning plenty of ball in front of them, Darragh and McCurry just couldnt get "separation" from their opposing marker. They are quick but not rapid. Nor do they have the physical strength to shrug off a marker

Conroy and McGarrity offer size and ball winning ability that wasn't there last year

McElholm is absolutely rapid and his pace sets him apart on the panel

Id like to see McCurry get a run at 11 for a while, he always has the head up and has the weight of a pass.
Our half forward line didnt have a great scoring return last year.

We need to find a balance of fetching clean ball on kickouts, scavenging for breaking ball on the ground, whilst offering a scoring threat. Easier said than done, and over to Malachy on that one.

I feel like this is the first time in a long time that proper trials have been done, all the best players in the county (bar Paul Donaghy whom doesnt want it) are in Malachy's 45 man roster.
I genuinely think he doesnt know his best 15 either, which makes it very interesting.

Fourth quarter final postponed, seems like a very late call

Malachy during the post match presser "Everyone is now back on the field training"

Niall Devlin and Ruairi Canavan both subbed off today for tight hamstrings

Watching Harlan Coben's latest Netflix show, Run Away

It's not bad but there are some scenes with James Nesbitt and his face looks like he's taken a few bumble bees!!

Ruth Gordon is pretty good though

Yeah half way thru it here myself, enjoying it. Good show so far

A good few men still not made any of the squads to date - any news on their return dates?

Hampsey
Teague
O'Hare
Rafferty
Kennedy - read in IN he will be available for NFL gameweek 1
D Canavan - read in IN he will be available for NFL gameweek 3
McElholm
Ciaran Daly