Tyrone County Football and Hurling

[NotedObserver]

Kennedy  wasn't there for Mayo Game in Omagh   and Tyrone got cleaned out in Midfield

They got cleaned out in other games when he was playing.

Which other games did they get cleaned out? Mayo was by a long, long distance Tyrone's worst performance of the year. I don't think it's a coincidence it was the only game Kennedy didn't play in. And bearing in mind he's been playing with a groin/ hernia injury all year I don't think he's been near his best.

Very often it's not about winning clean ball but taking away a team's first choice. Take the Dublin game - the talk in the build up was around O'Cofaigh Byrne. He was made a none factor due to Kennedy's influence.

Even at the weekend Kerry didn't exactly dominate the Tyrone kick out - in fact it was the opposite in the first half. They just made much better use of the ball they did get. And I think the issues there come back to getting forwards that can hold their own physically and take a man on.

I'm on record somewhere on this forum as talking up Conor O'Neill as one for the near future but at the minute he'd be on the other wing to Daly. His aerial ball winning as we saw in the U20 final wasn't his strength but his kickpassing is something we could be doing with more off.

Oneill another year under 20

[trileacman]

I really hate how slow the management is to accept they need to make changes. Happened all the time this year. Was clear at 1/2 time yesterday that Hampsey needed to be moved off Clifford and McCurry needed to be subbed. They however did the same as they did against Armagh. Waited for 10-15mins into the half after which Tyrone were facing a substantial deficit.

It would have been so easy to move Teague who held O'Shea to next to nothing onto Clifford. It was what, Hampseys 3rd start of the year? They took the risk of starting him on Clifford that's fair enough, but at half time they surely had to realise their choice was wrong. They even had Aidan Clarke on the bench to come on mark Ose if Teague was moved on to him.

Likewise McElholms best impact has been off the bench, all year they've tried to play 3 small forwards and all year it's been a disaster. Whether McCurry, Dara and Ruari v Armagh or McCurry, Dara and sparky against Mayo it hasn't worked and hamstrung our attack. What ends up happening is because of the 3v3 rule and because Matty Donnelly usually stays up then one of the 3 has to play as a CHF. McElholm and McCurry chasing shadows around their own defence and offering nothing on breaks or kick outs really holds Tyrone back. Or Dara who's the only one of them who is a tenacious tackler but wasting all his energy chasing defenders.

McElholms best performances have been off the bench as the game opens up and his pace can cause problems. There was a better kickout strategy at least yesterday but so much of the rest of the setup didn't make sense.

Was wondering were you were... waiting for Tyrone to lose to give management a slating. 

I'm living rent free in your head.

Just when Tyrone play knowing you're waiting at the buttons in hope of defeat and an opportunity to slate MO'R... and true to form 

Is that really slating management!
MOR seems a big improvement on the last 3 years but the above is just a couple of observations / comments.
Management did seem a little slow in responding to a few situations that required fire fighting - MOR even mentioned that they had left Hampsey hung out to dry a little. Seems fair in a discussion forum to ask how they could have responded - better, sooner, etc. - genuine question - be good to have a few insights how they could have responded.
Same with Mc Elholm - as good as he has been it's his first year in senior with a lot of S&C still required ahead of him - was it a good idea to start him - again a genuine question!
Appreciate Tyrone are short of a few players in some positions and also suffering with injuries but some of the questions are still worth raising.
MOR said that Kerry were better at penetrating Tyrone's defence but Tyrone struggled to penetrate Kerry - be good to have a better understanding of how and why that happens.
Haven't seen any stats for the game overall - be good if they were more readily available.

Just ignore that lad. He has a hard-on for my posts.

[Truthsayer]

I really hate how slow the management is to accept they need to make changes. Happened all the time this year. Was clear at 1/2 time yesterday that Hampsey needed to be moved off Clifford and McCurry needed to be subbed. They however did the same as they did against Armagh. Waited for 10-15mins into the half after which Tyrone were facing a substantial deficit.

It would have been so easy to move Teague who held O'Shea to next to nothing onto Clifford. It was what, Hampseys 3rd start of the year? They took the risk of starting him on Clifford that's fair enough, but at half time they surely had to realise their choice was wrong. They even had Aidan Clarke on the bench to come on mark Ose if Teague was moved on to him.

Likewise McElholms best impact has been off the bench, all year they've tried to play 3 small forwards and all year it's been a disaster. Whether McCurry, Dara and Ruari v Armagh or McCurry, Dara and sparky against Mayo it hasn't worked and hamstrung our attack. What ends up happening is because of the 3v3 rule and because Matty Donnelly usually stays up then one of the 3 has to play as a CHF. McElholm and McCurry chasing shadows around their own defence and offering nothing on breaks or kick outs really holds Tyrone back. Or Dara who's the only one of them who is a tenacious tackler but wasting all his energy chasing defenders.

McElholms best performances have been off the bench as the game opens up and his pace can cause problems. There was a better kickout strategy at least yesterday but so much of the rest of the setup didn't make sense.

Was wondering were you were... waiting for Tyrone to lose to give management a slating. 

I'm living rent free in your head.

Just when Tyrone play knowing you're waiting at the buttons in hope of defeat and an opportunity to slate MO'R... and true to form 

Is that really slating management!
MOR seems a big improvement on the last 3 years but the above is just a couple of observations / comments.
Management did seem a little slow in responding to a few situations that required fire fighting - MOR even mentioned that they had left Hampsey hung out to dry a little. Seems fair in a discussion forum to ask how they could have responded - better, sooner, etc. - genuine question - be good to have a few insights how they could have responded.
Same with Mc Elholm - as good as he has been it's his first year in senior with a lot of S&C still required ahead of him - was it a good idea to start him - again a genuine question!
Appreciate Tyrone are short of a few players in some positions and also suffering with injuries but some of the questions are still worth raising.
MOR said that Kerry were better at penetrating Tyrone's defence but Tyrone struggled to penetrate Kerry - be good to have a better understanding of how and why that happens.
Haven't seen any stats for the game overall - be good if they were more readily available.

Just ignore that lad. He has a hard-on for my posts.

Don't think a hard-on be accurate. Strange you have sexualised this 🤔
More curious how you only do negative comments about O'Rourke and never comment when Tyrone won; and only slag off the new rules. That begrudging negativity definitely doesn't turn me on.. sorry 😊

[reddgnhand]

Kennedy  wasn't there for Mayo Game in Omagh   and Tyrone got cleaned out in Midfield

They got cleaned out in other games when he was playing.

Which other games did they get cleaned out? Mayo was by a long, long distance Tyrone's worst performance of the year. I don't think it's a coincidence it was the only game Kennedy didn't play in. And bearing in mind he's been playing with a groin/ hernia injury all year I don't think he's been near his best.

Very often it's not about winning clean ball but taking away a team's first choice. Take the Dublin game - the talk in the build up was around O'Cofaigh Byrne. He was made a none factor due to Kennedy's influence.

Even at the weekend Kerry didn't exactly dominate the Tyrone kick out - in fact it was the opposite in the first half. They just made much better use of the ball they did get. And I think the issues there come back to getting forwards that can hold their own physically and take a man on.

I'm on record somewhere on this forum as talking up Conor O'Neill as one for the near future but at the minute he'd be on the other wing to Daly. His aerial ball winning as we saw in the U20 final wasn't his strength but his kickpassing is something we could be doing with more off.

Armagh? I just don't get this love in for Tyrone's midfield. Compare the pair to Michael Langan or O'connor. Langan has scored in the region of 1 25, 26 from midfield. Not sure of the stats but what has been the return from Tyrone's midfield?

[trileacman]

Kennedy  wasn't there for Mayo Game in Omagh   and Tyrone got cleaned out in Midfield

They got cleaned out in other games when he was playing.

Which other games did they get cleaned out? Mayo was by a long, long distance Tyrone's worst performance of the year. I don't think it's a coincidence it was the only game Kennedy didn't play in. And bearing in mind he's been playing with a groin/ hernia injury all year I don't think he's been near his best.

Very often it's not about winning clean ball but taking away a team's first choice. Take the Dublin game - the talk in the build up was around O'Cofaigh Byrne. He was made a none factor due to Kennedy's influence.

Even at the weekend Kerry didn't exactly dominate the Tyrone kick out - in fact it was the opposite in the first half. They just made much better use of the ball they did get. And I think the issues there come back to getting forwards that can hold their own physically and take a man on.

I'm on record somewhere on this forum as talking up Conor O'Neill as one for the near future but at the minute he'd be on the other wing to Daly. His aerial ball winning as we saw in the U20 final wasn't his strength but his kickpassing is something we could be doing with more off.

Armagh? I just don't get this love in for Tyrone's midfield. Compare the pair to Michael Langan or O'connor. Langan has scored in the region of 1 25, 26 from midfield. Not sure of the stats but what has been the return from Tyrone's midfield?

That's the country's best 2 MFs at the minute. Bit like saying Daragh is useless because he doesn't score David Clifford numbers or influence matches like Michael Murphy.

Comparing Conn and Kennedy to the rest of the Div 1 midfields and they are equal to anything else that's out there, Menton, O'Cofaigh Byrne, Hugh McFadden, Grimley, Crealey, Gary Mohan, Mick McCarville, Flynn and Ruane. They're no worse/better than that anyone group. No-one is saying that our MF are the best 2 in the country but they're certainly not the reason we're losing matches.

[Mikhailov]

Kennedy  wasn't there for Mayo Game in Omagh   and Tyrone got cleaned out in Midfield

They got cleaned out in other games when he was playing.

Which other games did they get cleaned out? Mayo was by a long, long distance Tyrone's worst performance of the year. I don't think it's a coincidence it was the only game Kennedy didn't play in. And bearing in mind he's been playing with a groin/ hernia injury all year I don't think he's been near his best.

Very often it's not about winning clean ball but taking away a team's first choice. Take the Dublin game - the talk in the build up was around O'Cofaigh Byrne. He was made a none factor due to Kennedy's influence.

Even at the weekend Kerry didn't exactly dominate the Tyrone kick out - in fact it was the opposite in the first half. They just made much better use of the ball they did get. And I think the issues there come back to getting forwards that can hold their own physically and take a man on.

I'm on record somewhere on this forum as talking up Conor O'Neill as one for the near future but at the minute he'd be on the other wing to Daly. His aerial ball winning as we saw in the U20 final wasn't his strength but his kickpassing is something we could be doing with more off.

Conor O'Neill arguably is the future of Tyrone football (among others) but he has done nothing yet of note to suggest he is a better option that either of our 2 midfielders at the minute

In the AI U20 semi final and final he got cleaned out in the air so not sure he is ready for senior level midfield yet. Could he play wing forward? Possibly yes...but give the lad a bit of time to adapt to the higher level of senior county. Is it not an easy step up....as others have had difficulty in recent years since our AI U20 win in 2022 to adapt to the difference

Regards the midfield pairing, they are our best option - we have tried Ben McDonnell, Joe Oguz, Liam Gray, Cormac Donnelly, Richie D....among others and it always reverts back to these 2 lads as the best option and I honestly don't see it changing in the immediate future

A bigger issue for me is a ball winning inside forward who can be relied upon to get possession no matter what way it is put in and let the Dazzler, Daragh, McElholm etc all feed off him.....but again, I am not too sure that player exists in the county

[Goals_Will_Come]

Plenty of positions up for grabs with the below maybe the closest to holding onto a place imo

1. Morgan
2. Devlin
3. Peter Teague
4. X
5. Mckernan
6. X
7. X
8. Kennedy
9. Conn
10. Daly
11. X
12. X
13. E Mcelholm
14.
15. D. Canavan

Think the under 21 side of Hampsey and mcgeary are coming towards an end. Seanie O'Donnell has came on well last few games with size/power needs to come on.
Several interesting players about the county in the middle sector but will be interesting do any perform in the club championship.

Roarty has made a great impact for Donegal. Could Joey Clarke or others come on to provide anything? Tho he is surrounded Mccole and mogan in the fb line

Wouldn't want to be going into 2026 without Hampsey, McGeary, Brennan or Bradley anyway. Their returns and form was a big part of the reason for an improved season. Same goes for Mattie Donnelly, Peter Harte and Niall Morgan - we are still much stronger with them involved. There is no obvious club players worth looking at with exception of Paul Donaghy - would be a massive help if he would come back on board. Certainly no midfielders at club level that aren't already on the panel - would be good to see Cathal Donaghy get game time next year - he is probably the pick of the midfielders behind Conn and Kennedy.
That leaves you with your U20 call ups - Clarke, Hughes, Daly, O'Neill and McCullagh probably need a year or two on development panel doing S&C along with the players already on it.
Don't think you will see a big turnover in the starting team/squad in 2026 maybe more so the year or two after.

[tiempo]

Anything to be said for Morgan at CHF as an attacking playmaker/scoring threat?

[God14]

Anything to be said for Morgan at CHF as an attacking playmaker/scoring threat?

Are you off your rocker?

[Truthsayer]

Anything to be said for Morgan at CHF as an attacking playmaker/scoring threat?

Are you off your rocker?

    one of those week's. I heard a man the other day think he was so enlightened suggesting Michael Murphy should be brought into the back line to mark David Clifford   

[HokeyPokey]

I don't get the criticism of the MF. Yes, they aren't putting up significant scores, but that's not what MFers generally are needed for. McGinley and Cavanagh were great for scoring, but you wouldn't be able to survive with them at MF or a Collie Holmes or Hughes with the new rules.

Kennedy, by virtue of being so tall, is one of the best fielders in the country, maybe we need more height to supplement them and maybe Conn could bulk up, but there's no obvious alternatives, unless we're going retread the paths of McNulty or McGleenan.

[Sean Og Patriots]

Anything to be said for Morgan at CHF as an attacking playmaker/scoring threat?

Morgan as I said in the past was lined out at CHF for friendly games post league campaign. From reports it was said that O'Kane picked up a slight injury during that break and caused Morgan to back into nets, so definitely don't rule it out next year. Morgan will also have a decision to make come November time as im sure we have all heard that a potential NFL contract is on the line. Hence the flummoxed face when asked if he is going to be available for Tyrone next year.

[Sean Og Patriots]

Tyrone support shocking. First people to write on this board are ones who dont travel to the games. Big Kennedy & Conn have got us over the line plenty of times and very quick to be forgotten it seems. Morgan out the field next year Okane in nets. Bomb it up let morgan go inside for breathers.

[bringbackdregish]

I don't get the criticism of the MF. Yes, they aren't putting up significant scores, but that's not what MFers generally are needed for. McGinley and Cavanagh were great for scoring, but you wouldn't be able to survive with them at MF or a Collie Holmes or Hughes with the new rules.

Kennedy, by virtue of being so tall, is one of the best fielders in the country, maybe we need more height to supplement them and maybe Conn could bulk up, but there's no obvious alternatives, unless we're going retread the paths of McNulty or McGleenan.

McNulty?? Are we for real??
Forget this carry on about Morgan outfield too, he won't even be here next year according to my source

[Snapchap]

I don't get the criticism of the MF. Yes, they aren't putting up significant scores, but that's not what MFers generally are needed for. McGinley and Cavanagh were great for scoring, but you wouldn't be able to survive with them at MF or a Collie Holmes or Hughes with the new rules.

Kennedy, by virtue of being so tall, is one of the best fielders in the country, maybe we need more height to supplement them and maybe Conn could bulk up, but there's no obvious alternatives, unless we're going retread the paths of McNulty or McGleenan.

McNulty?? Are we for real??
Forget this carry on about Morgan outfield too, he won't even be here next year according to my source

Well there we have it. When an anonymous figure online quotes a rumour he heard from another anonymous figure, then I suppose it can only be true.