Tyrone County Football and Hurling

[Goals_Will_Come]

What would be good to see during national league:
Niall Morgan
Aidan Clarke Paudie Hampsey Niall Devlin
Michael McKernan Rory Brennan Shea O'Hare
Brian Kennedy Conn kilpatrick
Ciaran Daly/Seanie O'Donnell Lorcan McGarrity Cathal Donaghy
Darren McCurry/Ruairi Canavan Darragh Canavan Eoin McElholm

Call ups I would like to see: Joey Clarke, Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Oisin McCann, Ethan Jordan.

Get fitness built into Hampsey and McKernan for Championship. Give O'Hare, McGarrity and Donaghy loads of game time to see can they be options during the championship. Expose McElholm to full league from the start to again develop him as a starter come championship. I have picked Clarke as I like the look of him anytime he has played but game time can also be given to the more established Cormac Quinn or Peter Teague and even Michael Rafferty there potentially.

[Bestchampoinireland]

What would be good to see during national league:
Niall Morgan
Aidan Clarke Paudie Hampsey Niall Devlin
Michael McKernan Rory Brennan Shea O'Hare
Brian Kennedy Conn kilpatrick
Ciaran Daly/Seanie O'Donnell Lorcan McGarrity Cathal Donaghy
Darren McCurry/Ruairi Canavan Darragh Canavan Eoin McElholm

Call ups I would like to see: Joey Clarke, Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Oisin McCann, Ethan Jordan.

Get fitness built into Hampsey and McKernan for Championship. Give O'Hare, McGarrity and Donaghy loads of game time to see can they be options during the championship. Expose McElholm to full league from the start to again develop him as a starter come championship. I have picked Clarke as I like the look of him anytime he has played but game time can also be given to the more established Cormac Quinn or Peter Teague and even Michael Rafferty there potentially.

Mc cullagh still under 20 next year ? Surley let him develop into that team with hopes of another all Ireland no point rushing him into seniors.

[thebigfullforward]

What would be good to see during national league:
Niall Morgan
Aidan Clarke Paudie Hampsey Niall Devlin
Michael McKernan Rory Brennan Shea O'Hare
Brian Kennedy Conn kilpatrick
Ciaran Daly/Seanie O'Donnell Lorcan McGarrity Cathal Donaghy
Darren McCurry/Ruairi Canavan Darragh Canavan Eoin McElholm

Call ups I would like to see: Joey Clarke, Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Oisin McCann, Ethan Jordan.

Get fitness built into Hampsey and McKernan for Championship. Give O'Hare, McGarrity and Donaghy loads of game time to see can they be options during the championship. Expose McElholm to full league from the start to again develop him as a starter come championship. I have picked Clarke as I like the look of him anytime he has played but game time can also be given to the more established Cormac Quinn or Peter Teague and even Michael Rafferty there potentially.

Mc cullagh still under 20 next year ? Surley let him develop into that team with hopes of another all Ireland no point rushing him into seniors.

100%. Let him play U20s. He'll be available if needed later in the season

[God14]

Watching the games over the past couple of weekends, we should have another strong u20 team next year?

O WATSON    Fintona       
S BRODERICK    killyclogher
B GALLAGHER    Dromore
C DEVLIN    Ardboe
K WAWRYNKIEWICZ    Cookstown
D MCKEOWN    Ardboe
C HOLmes        Eglish
C O'NEILL      Donaghmore
J CONCANNON    Ardboe
T MULDOON    Eglish
D DONAGHY    Galbally
C SHEEHY    Cookstown
S MCDERMOTT    Errigal
R MCCULLAGH    Loughmacrory
D DEVLIN    Ardboe

Liam Corry, Leo Hughes, Tommy Taggart, Ronan O'Sulivan, Aidan COlton

I havnt listed any of last years minor all ireland winners - should be a few of them included as well

Add: Tiarnan Loughran, Carrickmore

[Hand of God]

Are we hearing anything further on new call ups other than Joey Clarke. We are coming near the end of October now so we should be nearly there in terms of who we are calling up or bringing forward for trials etc.

We are awash with quality in the county not but unfortunately we seem to producing replicas of the type of players we already have.

We need to find an inside forward who can is big and physical and can win ball and take scores. If we have that outlet Canavan will thrive as it's a different string to our bow and if we have an outlet in there to let it long and direct then its hard to prepare for our attacks. Too many times last year McCurry and Canavan were getting pushed off the ball when it was let in early. There's no obvious answer here now but I think someone like Lorcan McGarrity or Michael Conroy should be given the league between them for that role and see if they can give us anything there. McGarrity must be the likeliest one to thrive there IMO. I understand there might be better forwards in the county than him but not many are 6ft2, Paul Donaghy is another option but I think he lacks that aggression and might be better in the half forward line.

The half forward line is probably the biggest issue in the team now and has been since 2021. We just don't get anywhere near enough scores out of this line. I think Mattie and Peter Harte will step away this year and I don't see who is getting the scores here with them going. Daly and SOD are improving but at nowhere near a quick enough way in the past few years, they need a break out year next year as with them one good game is usually followed by a fair average one. Do we go with McElholm at 11 or do we use him off the bench? I'd like to see Paul Donaghy getting a go at 12, his ability to hit 2 pointers is probably unmatched in the county. He's a big lad so should be an option from kickouts - obviously his obvious flaw is his mobility but I think you take that chance with his score getting ability. Gavin Potter looked like a great talent underage with his ball carrying ability but last I saw of him he needs to do a lot of work in the gym as he still looks lightweight. Hopefully Meyler can get fit and ready for next season as he's been a huge loss for us there. He won't give us much in scores but his work rate and bally carrying ability will create so much more chances for others nevermind what he gives to a team defensively. Is there much hope in Conor McKenna being available next year? Conor O'Neill, Ruiari McHugh, Cathal Donaghy and Joe Oguz could potentially be used at wing forward to give us some extra fielding power.

Our midfield duo are solid, Kennedy in particular is one of the best in the business but Kilpatrick tends to blow hot and cold. Thought Ben McDonnell did very well last year and is a good option from the bench. Michael McGleenan must be injured as he didn't feature for Eglish all year round. Think Oguz is more of a half forward at county level. Aodhan Donaghy has never impressed me when given a chance. After that I'm not sure who else there really is who could make a notable difference, Cathal Donaghy probably better suited to half forward. Oisin McCann could be an option but he's another one that might need some bulking up for intercounty.

Half back line is our strongest area of the field. McKernan and McGeary were two of our best performers last year. I'd like to see Teague come out to centre back as he gives us a physical presence there and is well able to kick a score. Lots of young talent there to challenge them going forward.

Full back line is solid I think. Niall Devlin was another one of our stand out performers last year, Cormac Quinn, Rafferty and Clarke are solid options in the corner. Full back could be a bit of an issue, Hampsey and Teague the only real options there and we all saw what happened to both when they came up against Clifford. Can't really think of any other real option at full back. Maybe Ben Hughes but its a big step up from u20 level.

I think I'd like to see a team like this during the league:

Morgan

Clarke
Hampsey
Devlin

McKernan
Teague
McGeary

Kennedy
Kilpatrick

Meyler
McElholm
Donaghy

McCurry
McGarrity
Canavan


The ones in bold I'd expect to be locked in as starters providing their form and fitness continues on from last year. Hampsey might be a bit of a surprise in that regard but I just don't see any better options right now. Clifford pretty much tore apart anyone he faced last year and it's a conundrum that will be difficult to solve for any side in the year ahead as he generally has a yard of pace and 2 inches of height on whatever defender he will come across. I'm wondering when some side is going to left of field and sacrifice a midfielder and ask him to come back to full back and mark Clifford. It could backfire spectacularly or it could work.

[Bestintheland07]

Decent first post Hand of God. Likewise, at least we know you aren't sitting in the CBS. Agree re Mckernan and Mcgeary. Is Mcgeary not away travelling for 12 months? And what about Mckernans injury / surgery? Word is P Donaghy not interested in playing for Tyrone

[Hand of God]

Decent first post Hand of God. Likewise, at least we know you aren't sitting in the CBS. Agree re Mckernan and Mcgeary. Is Mcgeary not away travelling for 12 months? And what about Mckernans injury / surgery? Word is P Donaghy not interested in playing for Tyrone

Had heard rumours of McGeary travelling but nothing confirmed, be a huge blow if he is missing. Another thing is the age profile of some of our players.

Harte and Donnelly will be turning 35 very shortly.
Morgan is 35 next year
McCurry will be 33 at some point next year.
Meyler, Brennan, McGeary and Bradley all turn 32 next year.
Frank Burns will be 31.

If McGeary is stepping away for a year at this stage in his career it could possibly be the end of him at county level. Wouldn't be surprised to see Burns and Bradley not involved next year as they struggled for minutes this time around. And I think at this point Mattie and Peter Harte owe us nothing and might see now as the right time to depart.

Div 2 won't be a walk in the park next year. Derry and Meath will both be gunning for promotion but it will be a good introduction for new blood. Sometimes I think it can be a positive for be missing a few players for the league as it will allow others the platform to impress.

I think Malachy should be doing his level best to get Donaghy involved, I know he blows hot and cold but he carries such a scoring threat in these new rules that he could be a huge asset. Malachy played it very safe with his squad last year, he brought back Teague, Bradley and Brennan but I think every player in the squad had been involved with Dooher and Logan at some point before. McHugh and O'Neill were added in later on but neither featured.

I'd be hoping we get a lot of new fresh blood in this season and they can push others on.

[Bestintheland07]

Bradley confirmed as going Travelling for a long period so I think that rules him out for 2026. I can see Donnelly & Harte going one more year

As you are 100% right about the age profile of the team. It doesn't feel right that after winning 3 of the last 4 U20 All Irelands so little have made their mark at senior level yet. Albeit a lot of them are still only 19 - 21 years old so plenty of time which is needed

Conor O'Neill is U20 next year so imagine it will be the same for him & McCullagh. Play with U20 until the season finishes

[GaelTheGael]

Are we hearing anything further on new call ups other than Joey Clarke. We are coming near the end of October now so we should be nearly there in terms of who we are calling up or bringing forward for trials etc.

We are awash with quality in the county not but unfortunately we seem to producing replicas of the type of players we already have.

We need to find an inside forward who can is big and physical and can win ball and take scores. If we have that outlet Canavan will thrive as it's a different string to our bow and if we have an outlet in there to let it long and direct then its hard to prepare for our attacks. Too many times last year McCurry and Canavan were getting pushed off the ball when it was let in early. There's no obvious answer here now but I think someone like Lorcan McGarrity or Michael Conroy should be given the league between them for that role and see if they can give us anything there. McGarrity must be the likeliest one to thrive there IMO. I understand there might be better forwards in the county than him but not many are 6ft2, Paul Donaghy is another option but I think he lacks that aggression and might be better in the half forward line.

The half forward line is probably the biggest issue in the team now and has been since 2021. We just don't get anywhere near enough scores out of this line. I think Mattie and Peter Harte will step away this year and I don't see who is getting the scores here with them going. Daly and SOD are improving but at nowhere near a quick enough way in the past few years, they need a break out year next year as with them one good game is usually followed by a fair average one. Do we go with McElholm at 11 or do we use him off the bench? I'd like to see Paul Donaghy getting a go at 12, his ability to hit 2 pointers is probably unmatched in the county. He's a big lad so should be an option from kickouts - obviously his obvious flaw is his mobility but I think you take that chance with his score getting ability. Gavin Potter looked like a great talent underage with his ball carrying ability but last I saw of him he needs to do a lot of work in the gym as he still looks lightweight. Hopefully Meyler can get fit and ready for next season as he's been a huge loss for us there. He won't give us much in scores but his work rate and bally carrying ability will create so much more chances for others nevermind what he gives to a team defensively. Is there much hope in Conor McKenna being available next year? Conor O'Neill, Ruiari McHugh, Cathal Donaghy and Joe Oguz could potentially be used at wing forward to give us some extra fielding power.

Our midfield duo are solid, Kennedy in particular is one of the best in the business but Kilpatrick tends to blow hot and cold. Thought Ben McDonnell did very well last year and is a good option from the bench. Michael McGleenan must be injured as he didn't feature for Eglish all year round. Think Oguz is more of a half forward at county level. Aodhan Donaghy has never impressed me when given a chance. After that I'm not sure who else there really is who could make a notable difference, Cathal Donaghy probably better suited to half forward. Oisin McCann could be an option but he's another one that might need some bulking up for intercounty.

Half back line is our strongest area of the field. McKernan and McGeary were two of our best performers last year. I'd like to see Teague come out to centre back as he gives us a physical presence there and is well able to kick a score. Lots of young talent there to challenge them going forward.

Full back line is solid I think. Niall Devlin was another one of our stand out performers last year, Cormac Quinn, Rafferty and Clarke are solid options in the corner. Full back could be a bit of an issue, Hampsey and Teague the only real options there and we all saw what happened to both when they came up against Clifford. Can't really think of any other real option at full back. Maybe Ben Hughes but its a big step up from u20 level.

I think I'd like to see a team like this during the league:

Morgan

Clarke
Hampsey
Devlin

McKernan
Teague
McGeary

Kennedy
Kilpatrick

Meyler
McElholm
Donaghy

McCurry
McGarrity
Canavan


The ones in bold I'd expect to be locked in as starters providing their form and fitness continues on from last year. Hampsey might be a bit of a surprise in that regard but I just don't see any better options right now. Clifford pretty much tore apart anyone he faced last year and it's a conundrum that will be difficult to solve for any side in the year ahead as he generally has a yard of pace and 2 inches of height on whatever defender he will come across. I'm wondering when some side is going to left of field and sacrifice a midfielder and ask him to come back to full back and mark Clifford. It could backfire spectacularly or it could work.

McGeary, Meyler and Mark Bradley won't be involved next year. No word yet on Mattie or Peter Harte's plans.

[Bestintheland07]

Why not Meyler? I thought he was back to fitness and injury cleared up

[Bestchampoinireland]

I think myler showed against errigal that he is still one of the best in the business one of very few players you could pick out across our championship as a clear county man. Not sure if this is because the supporting cast is pushing so hard or if our county men are under performing. I believe it is the case we have a large number of players at the same level making malachi and co job very hard, think the addition of the development squad should help to pick out who has that little extra step for county level and could push on whereas in years before this level of player might of got tried for one year and then the next one tried speaking of players such as the mc Kearney men from dungannon and likes of greys from Trillick. There or thereabouts but never made the breakthrough.

As always. Best champo in Ireland.

[Goals_Will_Come]

What would be good to see during national league:
Niall Morgan
Aidan Clarke Paudie Hampsey Niall Devlin
Michael McKernan Rory Brennan Shea O'Hare
Brian Kennedy Conn kilpatrick
Ciaran Daly/Seanie O'Donnell Lorcan McGarrity Cathal Donaghy
Darren McCurry/Ruairi Canavan Darragh Canavan Eoin McElholm

Call ups I would like to see: Joey Clarke, Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Oisin McCann, Ethan Jordan.

Get fitness built into Hampsey and McKernan for Championship. Give O'Hare, McGarrity and Donaghy loads of game time to see can they be options during the championship. Expose McElholm to full league from the start to again develop him as a starter come championship. I have picked Clarke as I like the look of him anytime he has played but game time can also be given to the more established Cormac Quinn or Peter Teague and even Michael Rafferty there potentially.

Joey Clarke also needs a run at wing back alternating with O'Hare.
Ruairi McCullagh should be called up, let him play his U20 football but have him in the panel similar to Ruairi, McElholm and Conor O'Neill in recent seasons. Every time I see him he seems a very obvious replacement for McCurry long term - always puts the scores on the board.

[tiempo]

McCullagh's day will come, excited to see how he goes this Sunday

There's a huge transition coming with M Donnelly, P Harte, McGeary, Meyler all towards the tail end it would seem

Would hope Dalaigh Jones is jettisoned in to start the NFL and Aidan Clarke given a go at full back

Dazzler at 11 would force opposition to respect that line a lot more, Daly and O'Donnell capable either side

[Hand of God]

--------------Morgan
-------------(O'Kane)

A Clarke     Hampsey       Devlin
(C Quinn)  (McCarron)   (Rafferty)

McKernan      Teague       D Jones
(O'Hare)    (R Brennan)   (J Clarke)

-----Kennedy-------Kilpatrick
----(McDonnell)----(McHugh)

C Daly-------McElholm-------S O'Donnell
(Oguz)-------(E Jordan)-------(C Donaghy)

McCurry------McGarrity-----D Canavan
(Fullerton)---(Conroy)----(R Canavan)

Fair bit of doubt over availability of Harte, M Donnelly, McGeary, Meyler, Paul Donaghy and Conor McKenna as things stand but if they want to play for Tyrone next year you'd have to expect they are involved. Is there any notable absentees outside of those names for next year?

[NotedObserver]

Jerseys up for grabs. Need some other of the young crop to grab the chance and show how good they are. It will be interesting to see the approach taken by management this year