McKenna Cup 2024

[Knock Yer Mucker In]

Tyrone team v Cavan last night: N Morgan (0-03, 3f), PJ Quinn, D McBride, R McKenna, R McNabb, D Carlin, T McCann, N McKenna (0-01), S Cavanagh (0-01), PJ Lavery, C Cavanagh, P Kane (1-00), P McNeice (0-03), M Donnelly (0-01), K Coney (0-05, 2f).

Tyrone team v Mayo NFL 9th Feb: N Morgan (0-01,f), A McCrory, C Clarke, B Tierney, C McGinley (0-02), P Harte (00-01), T McCann, C Cavanagh, C Grugan, E McKenna, S McGuigan, P Hughes, D McCurry (2-04, 0-1f), M Donnelly (0-05), R O'Neill (0-01,f).

So only Niall Morgan, Tiernan McCann & Colm Cavanagh retained their places from the last game. To make 12 changes and still come out 7 point winners against an emerging Cavan team is very impressive.
Add in to that the likes of Aidan Cassidy, Joe McMahon, Conor Gormley, Stevie O'Neill & Justin McMahon to come back into contention - competition for places is serious.
I thought after 20 minutes it was going to be a real struggle. Cavan were up for a scrap, well organised defensively whilst Keating, Dunne & Mackey were looking lively and Keating in particular was winning his battle with McBride. The referee was biased too in favour of the underdogs, so to turn that around was very pleasing.

Plenty to work on - Niall Morgan missed a few kicks that were within his range. I thought PJ looked the best of the full back line. McBride seemed to stand off Keating too much. Maybe the black card he picked up against Derry was still on his mind.
Niall McKenna doesn't seem suited to Midfield, lacks physicality and im not sure where he would fit into our first 15. Paddy McNiece spurned a few goal chances that others (McCurry, McAliskey or RON)  wouldn't & PJ Lavery hasn't really come to terms with intercounty yet - its early days for him. It looks like it might take a year.
Kyle Coney served a reminder of his talents, if only he could get a good run injury free. That was a very encouraging performance as he has only had a few weeks training. Sean Cavanagh took a few great catches in the middle of the park & you could see why Mickey likes him there as opposed to the FF line. Tiernan McCann played well I thought & seems to be pushing on now and improving with every game.

It might help if he was played in the position that brought him to Harte's attention in the first place at WHB.

[Redhand Santa]

Tyrone team v Cavan last night: N Morgan (0-03, 3f), PJ Quinn, D McBride, R McKenna, R McNabb, D Carlin, T McCann, N McKenna (0-01), S Cavanagh (0-01), PJ Lavery, C Cavanagh, P Kane (1-00), P McNeice (0-03), M Donnelly (0-01), K Coney (0-05, 2f).

Tyrone team v Mayo NFL 9th Feb: N Morgan (0-01,f), A McCrory, C Clarke, B Tierney, C McGinley (0-02), P Harte (00-01), T McCann, C Cavanagh, C Grugan, E McKenna, S McGuigan, P Hughes, D McCurry (2-04, 0-1f), M Donnelly (0-05), R O'Neill (0-01,f).

So only Niall Morgan, Tiernan McCann & Colm Cavanagh retained their places from the last game. To make 12 changes and still come out 7 point winners against an emerging Cavan team is very impressive.
Add in to that the likes of Aidan Cassidy, Joe McMahon, Conor Gormley, Stevie O'Neill & Justin McMahon to come back into contention - competition for places is serious.
I thought after 20 minutes it was going to be a real struggle. Cavan were up for a scrap, well organised defensively whilst Keating, Dunne & Mackey were looking lively and Keating in particular was winning his battle with McBride. The referee was biased too in favour of the underdogs, so to turn that around was very pleasing.

Plenty to work on - Niall Morgan missed a few kicks that were within his range. I thought PJ looked the best of the full back line. McBride seemed to stand off Keating too much. Maybe the black card he picked up against Derry was still on his mind.
Niall McKenna doesn't seem suited to Midfield, lacks physicality and im not sure where he would fit into our first 15. Paddy McNiece spurned a few goal chances that others (McCurry, McAliskey or RON)  wouldn't & PJ Lavery hasn't really come to terms with intercounty yet - its early days for him. It looks like it might take a year.
Kyle Coney served a reminder of his talents, if only he could get a good run injury free. That was a very encouraging performance as he has only had a few weeks training. Sean Cavanagh took a few great catches in the middle of the park & you could see why Mickey likes him there as opposed to the FF line. Tiernan McCann played well I thought & seems to be pushing on now and improving with every game.

It might help if he was played in the position that brought him to Harte's attention in the first place at WHB.

Given his lack of size I suspect that Harte thinks he could be a liability defensively if played in the half back line at county level. He is a good player but currently may not be physically strong enough for county football. That may come over the next year or 2.

[Knock Yer Mucker In]

Strength is not an issue, he is as tall as Peter. Being played in the wrong position is the issue

[From the Bunker]

As much as it must be uplifting for Tyrone to beat Cavan with 12 changes from their league match against Mayo. It must be a bit of a wake up call for Cavan! Surely they were taking this competition seriously and wanted to start the year with silverware? I thought Cavans championship year was over rated last year and there is a bit of unreal expectation in their squad (at the moment)!

[rodney trotter]

As much as it must be uplifting for Tyrone to beat Cavan with 12 changes from their league match against Mayo. It must be a bit of a wake up call for Cavan! Surely they were taking this competition seriously and wanted to start the year with silverware? I thought Cavans championship year was over rated last year and there is a bit of unreal expectation in their squad (at the moment)!

What are you on about? See that Cavan lost by 7, and presume didnt take the competition seriously? 7 points wasnt a fair reflection of the game. Cavan played well, gave away a very slopy goal at the end of the first half which brought Tyrone level at haf time. Cavan lost the Killian Brady 5 minutes into the second half to a black card following a yellow,and were up against it being down to 14 men for most of the second half. Nether side was at full strenght.

I dont know what the Cavan Squad have been saying that you think they have "unreal expectation* None of them said they would win the All Ireland this year

[Redhand Santa]

Strength is not an issue, he is as tall as Peter. Being played in the wrong position is the issue

I'm not sure if he's as tall as Peter but he certainly wouldn't be as strong. Harte was excellent for Ulster last Sunday from half back and I don't think Lavery is near his level yet. Its very early days for him and hopefully he can push on but at this stage I'd be surprised to see him feature come championship.

[J OGorman]

JoG, I suppose you'll be calling now for the cup to be taken off Tyrone and given to Cavan because of the students.

I hope you enjoy your year supporting Derry again and like Brolly whinging about us red arses. Oh yeah we're not red arses any more.

re the cup, absolutely not. First blood to the red arses !

Lord Joseph Brollsworth still isnt the flavour of the month 'round these parts.

We'll approach another year as the mighty Oaks with the gay abandon of a spring lamb only to be served in a platter after a few months :-)

Up Derry

[mylestheslasher]

As much as it must be uplifting for Tyrone to beat Cavan with 12 changes from their league match against Mayo. It must be a bit of a wake up call for Cavan! Surely they were taking this competition seriously and wanted to start the year with silverware? I thought Cavans championship year was over rated last year and there is a bit of unreal expectation in their squad (at the moment)!

Cavan were short 7/8 players yesterday too. Let in a sloppy goal and really would have been value for a 4/5 point lead at half time. Once Brady was sent off it was curtains. We know well where we are, its others that put unreal expectation on us. But know this, the young lads we are bringing through dont give a flying f**k about Tyrone and their reputation and many of them have beat Tyrone in a couple of finals. We are not there yet but we are moving in the right direction

[emainmacha]

Few photos of final

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16144312@N07/sets/72157641273516653/

[From the Bunker]

As much as it must be uplifting for Tyrone to beat Cavan with 12 changes from their league match against Mayo. It must be a bit of a wake up call for Cavan! Surely they were taking this competition seriously and wanted to start the year with silverware? I thought Cavans championship year was over rated last year and there is a bit of unreal expectation in their squad (at the moment)!

What are you on about? See that Cavan lost by 7, and presume didnt take the competition seriously? 7 points wasnt a fair reflection of the game. Cavan played well, gave away a very slopy goal at the end of the first half which brought Tyrone level at haf time. Cavan lost the Killian Brady 5 minutes into the second half to a black card following a yellow,and were up against it being down to 14 men for most of the second half. Nether side was at full strenght.

I dont know what the Cavan Squad have been saying that you think they have "unreal expectation* None of them said they would win the All Ireland this year

As much as it must be uplifting for Tyrone to beat Cavan with 12 changes from their league match against Mayo. It must be a bit of a wake up call for Cavan! Surely they were taking this competition seriously and wanted to start the year with silverware? I thought Cavans championship year was over rated last year and there is a bit of unreal expectation in their squad (at the moment)!

Cavan were short 7/8 players yesterday too. Let in a sloppy goal and really would have been value for a 4/5 point lead at half time. Once Brady was sent off it was curtains. We know well where we are, its others that put unreal expectation on us. But know this, the young lads we are bringing through dont give a flying f**k about Tyrone and their reputation and many of them have beat Tyrone in a couple of finals. We are not there yet but we are moving in the right direction

The unreal expectation is with the fans. No one is talking of AI's or ulsters (yet). Just a major scalp in the Championship (to begin with). There are as you say a crop of lads who have turned over Ulster at under 21 and they should carry that to senior and fear no one in the province. They are work in progress and this group need to be nurtured or they will be lost.  Patience is the key!

[rodney trotter]

There is bound to be expectation after winning 3 u21 championships. Wouldn't say its unreal expecation as Cavan are still playing Division 3 football, but proved last year against Monagahan, Derry, second half againstt Kerry that there is good potential there...

[Captain Obvious]

As much as it must be uplifting for Tyrone to beat Cavan with 12 changes from their league match against Mayo. It must be a bit of a wake up call for Cavan! Surely they were taking this competition seriously and wanted to start the year with silverware? I thought Cavans championship year was over rated last year and there is a bit of unreal expectation in their squad (at the moment)!

Cavan were short 7/8 players yesterday too. Let in a sloppy goal and really would have been value for a 4/5 point lead at half time. Once Brady was sent off it was curtains. We know well where we are, its others that put unreal expectation on us. But know this, the young lads we are bringing through dont give a flying f**k about Tyrone and their reputation and many of them have beat Tyrone in a couple of finals. We are not there yet but we are moving in the right direction

Most of them championship starters? after underachieving at under 21 level it seems the Tyrone minor All Ireland winners of 2008,2010 are finally going to make the break through at senior level this year.

[rodney trotter]

Yes, Conor Gilsenan, Alan Clarke, Killian Clarke, Fergal Flanagan,David Givney, Geaorid McKiernan, Ronan Flanagan, and Jack Brady. Michael Lyng will probaly be starting come championship so another,

Givney and Mckiernan made appearaces off the bench.

[StGallsGAA]

Any highlights online? ?

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Cavan were short 7/8 players yesterday too. Let in a sloppy goal and really would have been value for a 4/5 point lead at half time. Once Brady was sent off it was curtains. We know well where we are, its others that put unreal expectation on us. But know this, the young lads we are bringing through dont give a flying f**k about Tyrone and their reputation and many of them have beat Tyrone in a couple of finals. We are not there yet but we are moving in the right direction

Not sure about this suggestion that Cavan should have been 4 or 5 up by half-time. I felt Cavan did play well in the first half but Tyrone had already missed two very good goal chances before Kane scored. In the second half there were more guilt edged goal chances and McNeice in particular missed two easy ones in the space of a couple of minutes. In reality I felt Cavan were a little fortunate not to suffer a heavier defeat last night.