McKenna Cup 2024

[God14]

Any of the Tyrone ones at the game today, could they give us a run down on how the newcomers faired out?

[Gold]

Itchy you're so right, am surprised Scullion wasn't lynched as Tyronies would be very protective over St Mickey!

No one talks to my Mickey like that! Scullion better watch out.

Tony doesnt follow the heard, he says and does what he likes.   We werent good today, had plenty of possession but couldnt turn it into scores. Tyrone scored at ease and couldve had a number of goals but for a few great saves from Kerr.

Our full forward line werent great at getting out in front to win ball, prefering to stand still as per the last million years--whilst Tyrone's wee corner forwards were flying out to the ball.

Gave away awful first goal--keeper gave ball to full forward but we somehow got the ball back, only for a defender trying to clear the ball on our goalline being blocked down into our net by P Harte. We got level through a Niblock Penalty )our best player by a distance, roasted C Gormley) but again gave away an easy goal and were a distance behind thereafter.

Tyrone corner forward (McCurry?) looks sharp and scored about 5 points. Lafferty looks a  player and scored a point when he came on.

Mick McCann is better out the field--he takes too much out of the ball at full forward. Micko Herron was disapointing at FF, didnt show for the ball. Forwards panicked and ball handling was poor. We're lacking class unfortunately in front of goal--one good score came at start from McVeigh after about 5 quick handpasses but a further pass was on to slip Mick in 1 on 1--too many players freak out and think you have to shoot when you are about 20 yards out when it is the simplist thing to slip another pass--but then there arent many Jamie Clarkes and Oisins out there, players who dont panic and can slow it down (Matrix -style) in their heads when they are close in--we'd another chance near the end when someone (i was too far away to see who) just drove a shot at the keepers hands when clean through on goal.

Best for us: Niblock, Kerr (save for early mistake) and Kevin O'Boyle.

[rodney trotter]

Itchy you're so right, am surprised Scullion wasn't lynched as Tyronies would be very protective over St Mickey!

No one talks to my Mickey like that! Scullion better watch out.

Tony doesnt follow the heard, he says and does what he likes.   We werent good today, had plenty of possession but couldnt turn it into scores. Tyrone scored at ease and couldve had a number of goals but for a few great saves from Kerr.

Our full forward line werent great at getting out in front to win ball, prefering to stand still as per the last million years--whilst Tyrone's wee corner forwards were flying out to the ball.

Gave away awful first goal--keeper gave ball to full forward but we somehow got the ball back, only for a defender trying to clear the ball on our goalline being blocked down into our net by P Harte. We got level through a Niblock Penalty )our best player by a distance, roasted C Gormley) but again gave away an easy goal and were a distance behind thereafter.

Tyrone corner forward (McCurry?) looks sharp and scored about 5 points. Lafferty looks a  player and scored a point when he came on.

Mick McCann is better out the field--he takes too much out of the ball at full forward. Micko Herron was disapointing at FF, didnt show for the ball. Forwards panicked and ball handling was poor. We're lacking class unfortunately in front of goal--one good score came at start from McVeigh after about 5 quick handpasses but a further pass was on to slip Mick in 1 on 1--too many players freak out and think you have to shoot when you are about 20 yards out when it is the simplist thing to slip another pass--but then there arent many Jamie Clarkes and Oisins out there, players who dont panic and can slow it down (Matrix -style) in their heads when they are close in--we'd another chance near the end when someone (i was too far away to see who) just drove a shot at the keepers hands when clean through on goal.

Best for us: Niblock, Kerr (save for early mistake) and Kevin O'Boyle.

Is Tomas McCann injured, not listed for the McKenna Cup? Aodhan Gallagher missing aswell.

No sign of Kevin McGourty either, CJ had a operation on a hip I think?

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Worrying that Conor Gormley is being roasted - we could be in deeper trouble when the sun's a mite higher in a grey sky.

[Walter Cronc]

In fairness to Mickey Harte, he had a rough enough week of it, standing over the tyrone player who murdered his father, at the funeral earlier this week. He had enough things to deal with in the past, without something like that.

Its just  terrible i hope he is ok 

Hope you are ok too Tommy, very sensitive on racism, on a bullshit story.

Care to elaborate here??

[rodney trotter]

In fairness to Mickey Harte, he had a rough enough week of it, standing over the tyrone player who murdered his father, at the funeral earlier this week. He had enough things to deal with in the past, without something like that.

Its just  terrible i hope he is ok 

Hope you are ok too Tommy, very sensitive on racism, on a bullshit story.

Care to elaborate here??

Not particualry no.

[Walter Cronc]

In fairness to Mickey Harte, he had a rough enough week of it, standing over the tyrone player who murdered his father, at the funeral earlier this week. He had enough things to deal with in the past, without something like that.

Its just  terrible i hope he is ok 

Hope you are ok too Tommy, very sensitive on racism, on a bullshit story.

Care to elaborate here??

Not particualry no.

Didn't think so!! Clown.

[rodney trotter]

In fairness to Mickey Harte, he had a rough enough week of it, standing over the tyrone player who murdered his father, at the funeral earlier this week. He had enough things to deal with in the past, without something like that.

Its just  terrible i hope he is ok 

Hope you are ok too Tommy, very sensitive on racism, on a bullshit story.

Care to elaborate here??

Not particualry no.

Didn't think so!! Clown.

Good man yourself, I didn't answer your question, so you call me a clown.
I am not going into the details of it as it not for a internet forum.

[Walter Cronc]

No worries, anytime.

[our_fella]

ARMAGH TEAM TO FACE DOWN ON WEDNESDAY

1. CONOR Mc KEOWN
2. STEPHEN FINNEGAN
3. KIERAN TONER
4. GARY Mc COOEY
5. CIARAN Mc KEEVER
6. JAMES DONNELLY
7. DECLAN Mc KENNA
8. JAMES LAVERY
9. BARRY LOUGHRAN
10. CAOLAN RAFFERTY
11. BRIAN MALLON
12. STEFAN CAMPBELL
13. MICHAEL STEVENSON
14. JOHN KINGHAM
15. STEFAN FORKER

[Orior]

ARMAGH TEAM TO FACE DOWN ON WEDNESDAY

1. CONOR Mc KEOWN
2. STEPHEN FINNEGAN
3. KIERAN TONER
4. GARY Mc COOEY
5. CIARAN Mc KEEVER
6. JAMES DONNELLY
7. DECLAN Mc KENNA
8. JAMES LAVERY
9. BARRY LOUGHRAN
10. CAOLAN RAFFERTY
11. BRIAN MALLON
12. STEFAN CAMPBELL
13. MICHAEL STEVENSON
14. JOHN KINGHAM
15. STEFAN FORKER

Finegan not good enough for XMG but good enough for Armagh? Even with the questionable attitude, I dont get it.

[imtommygunn]

Itchy you're so right, am surprised Scullion wasn't lynched as Tyronies would be very protective over St Mickey!

No one talks to my Mickey like that! Scullion better watch out.

Tony doesnt follow the heard, he says and does what he likes.   We werent good today, had plenty of possession but couldnt turn it into scores. Tyrone scored at ease and couldve had a number of goals but for a few great saves from Kerr.

Our full forward line werent great at getting out in front to win ball, prefering to stand still as per the last million years--whilst Tyrone's wee corner forwards were flying out to the ball.

Gave away awful first goal--keeper gave ball to full forward but we somehow got the ball back, only for a defender trying to clear the ball on our goalline being blocked down into our net by P Harte. We got level through a Niblock Penalty )our best player by a distance, roasted C Gormley) but again gave away an easy goal and were a distance behind thereafter.

Tyrone corner forward (McCurry?) looks sharp and scored about 5 points. Lafferty looks a  player and scored a point when he came on.

Mick McCann is better out the field--he takes too much out of the ball at full forward. Micko Herron was disapointing at FF, didnt show for the ball. Forwards panicked and ball handling was poor. We're lacking class unfortunately in front of goal--one good score came at start from McVeigh after about 5 quick handpasses but a further pass was on to slip Mick in 1 on 1--too many players freak out and think you have to shoot when you are about 20 yards out when it is the simplist thing to slip another pass--but then there arent many Jamie Clarkes and Oisins out there, players who dont panic and can slow it down (Matrix -style) in their heads when they are close in--we'd another chance near the end when someone (i was too far away to see who) just drove a shot at the keepers hands when clean through on goal.

Best for us: Niblock, Kerr (save for early mistake) and Kevin O'Boyle.

Is Tomas McCann injured, not listed for the McKenna Cup? Aodhan Gallagher missing aswell.

No sign of Kevin McGourty either, CJ had a operation on a hip I think?

Gallagher opted out as has cj. Kevin retired from county football.

Not exactly sure with tomas mccann but i think he'll be back.

[Redhand Santa]

Tyrone won comfortably enough today. Like most McKenna Cup games there was negatives and positives. My biggest concern is that some of our biggest problems in recent years still seem evident. We can't win clean ball in midfield but we never could. However we currently are really struggling to win the breaking ball in this area. Our half forwards and half backs really seem to struggle to get in the right position and don't put their bodies on the line. We really miss the likes of Dooher, McGinley and Jordan for this. I also still think we really need another strong tight marking tough player in the full back line. The other big thing that has to be sorted this year is the free taking (wasn't too many today). Harte may be prepared to carry Morgan for the long range one's - he scored a 50 easily today. So far Cavanagh and O'Neill have been the preferred options for the closer one's, though both can be unpredictable.

In defence today McNamee hit a couple of great points and looked decent going forward though he did give a couple away. Warnock had an ok debut. Gormley struggled early before injury. McRory was decent enough. Would like another look at McNally.

Thought Cavanagh was very good in open play particularly in the first half. Worked extremely hard and is a huge addition this year if stays fit. Who knows how the Donegal game would have went last year if he and a few of the other injured players had been fit. Thought Kane also played well going forward and was an impressive debut. However, the pairing wouldn't work come championship. Kane I'd imagine would have a better chance in the half forward line at this level.

In the forwards nothing went right at all for McAliskey today and he looked fustrated. O'Neill showed well though certainly doesn't have the scoring threat he once had. The two half forwards were very quiet. Harte was good and got the goals, not often you see someone blocking an attempted clearance into the net. McCurry was excellent - if he gets space at all he's great at getting the score. Hard to know how'd he'd cope with Donegal in championship at this stage but with a bit of bulking up could be a serious forward over next few years.

[Redhand Santa]

If I was to pick a championship team now and it could change significantly come championship it would look something like this:
McConnell (though if Morgan proves himself in league could be hard to ignore his scoring ability given our lack of long range free takers)
McRory
Justy (if can ever get him fit)
Carlin
McNamee
Gormley
Clarke
Joe McMahon
Sean Cavanagh
Colm Cavanagh
Harte
Penrose
Coney
O'Neill
Ronan O'Neill/McCurry/Mattie Donnelly depending on how prove themselves in league.

[ONeill]

Tyrone won comfortably enough today. Like most McKenna Cup games there was negatives and positives. My biggest concern is that some of our biggest problems in recent years still seem evident. We can't win clean ball in midfield but we never could. However we currently are really struggling to win the breaking ball in this area. Our half forwards and half backs really seem to struggle to get in the right position and don't put their bodies on the line. We really miss the likes of Dooher, McGinley and Jordan for this. I also still think we really need another strong tight marking tough player in the full back line. The other big thing that has to be sorted this year is the free taking (wasn't too many today). Harte may be prepared to carry Morgan for the long range one's - he scored a 50 easily today. So far Cavanagh and O'Neill have been the preferred options for the closer one's, though both can be unpredictable.

In defence today McNamee hit a couple of great points and looked decent going forward though he did give a couple away. Warnock had an ok debut. Gormley struggled early before injury. McRory was decent enough. Would like another look at McNally.

Thought Cavanagh was very good in open play particularly in the first half. Worked extremely hard and is a huge addition this year if stays fit. Who knows how the Donegal game would have went last year if he and a few of the other injured players had been fit. Thought Kane also played well going forward and was an impressive debut. However, the pairing wouldn't work come championship. Kane I'd imagine would have a better chance in the half forward line at this level.

In the forwards nothing went right at all for McAliskey today and he looked fustrated. O'Neill showed well though certainly doesn't have the scoring threat he once had. The two half forwards were very quiet. Harte was good and got the goals, not often you see someone blocking an attempted clearance into the net. McCurry was excellent - if he gets space at all he's great at getting the score. Hard to know how'd he'd cope with Donegal in championship at this stage but with a bit of bulking up could be a serious forward over next few years.

Agree with all of that. Headed home before the end but I thought McNally did rightly on his man although, as you said, you'd want a look at him against another top forward.