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While it is very early days yet the signs are great for Tyrone. I believed last year we had an easy path to the final which glossed over the issues. We wont get anywhere near it this year if we meet any of the top 4 teams.

Still cant believe we are starting this year with the same issues as the last 5 years. No class forwards, no free taker etc.

On a separate note is this hartes last year in terms of contract?

Very measured and balance interview from Canavan. 8 officials at the game deemed it accidental. 26 cards yes, but 6 players picked up 18 of these, 2 yellows and a red. I'm pretty sure a Stewartstown player picked up a worse injury than Sean and spent the night in hospital. I don't see his pic on twitter though. anyone seen it?

In defence of Sean which I dont normally do, people are getting carried away with this thing of "oh he put it on social media, he's looking attention", in his defence he was probably receiving hundreds of get well soon messages and I know i wouldnt be arsed replying back to all of them adn it would take forever,  the best thing to do is let everyone know you are ok with a post on his page and to say he appreciate's all the messages etc etc
Also he's not the first man to do this, ive seen instances of this before this season with footballers getting hurt in a game and going to social media to let everyone know he's ok, it is social media,thats the point of social media!!!! I dont like namin g people but one example is Carson of Greencastle, in this instance Gallagher (and rightly so) took the barage of the abuse for his actions and Carson none and rightly so, who we all wished him a speedy recovery, but in big Seans situation the majority are calling him names and all sorts because he put it on social media, weather or not it was accidental or intentional, at the end of the day he was concussed, broke his nose and had a suspected broken jaw and to be honest I had heard there was more damage so im glad he put up the post to correct everyone and let us know the damage and that he was ok again!!

If sean had of cleaned the dry blood of his face it wouldnt have looked as bad.  Attention seeking at his best.  There is no chance of Sean slipping away into the background once his county career is over.

Did you see the swelling on his face?? I imagine his face would have been quite sore to touch. Im sure you would have just wiped the blood away and cracked on with it.

I am curious to know myself. I am 100% certin that cathal would hsve gotten a lot of abuse on thr football pitch. Drew has a right to be upset but only if he has never sledged anyone himself before. If he has then he shouldnt be complaining.

While brolly is  a muppet it is difficult to argue with him. I myself thought harte should have walked away with a great rep around 20011/2012. I do think he is past it  and for me he is only damaging his rep the longer he stays. Just my opinon but think Tyrone will bd a better team a few years after he steps down.

and why was tiaran mc cann givin the job of marking kilkenny? totally backfired. lee brennan actually ended up marking him late on when he got another point. we got a goal and a point directly from the 'hail marys' but we only started doin it when we were 8 points down with 5 mins to go. if we had of done it from the start we could easily have been 8 points up before Dublin started playing. game lost on the sideline.

No, you would have sacrificed our early points for low percentage goal chances. Colm cavanagh won one duel in the square, Dublin reacted by double marking him and the next ball was snuffed out in an instant. It would have been suicide to do what you suggest.

I disagree. Cavanagh knocked the second high ball down and Peter harte was fouled for tapover free. So 1-1 first two balls in. If we had done this first 5 mins then Dublin put 2 men in square on cavanagh surely then we would have an extra man out field? Then we really would have been in business.

I was completely certain that Colm would either start at FF or at least spend considerable time up there. Everyone knew Dublin was doggy under the high ball and even at worst case like you said they would have to double mark him which freed up someone else.

I was shocked when Mickey said to BBC that it wasn't something they had worked on or thought off when questioned about it.

I would take your point that Tyrone would benefit from the confidence boost of beating a Mayo or Kerry in a big game in Croke Park. But if we aren't drawn against them what can we do. People are already forgetting that before the Donegal and Monaghan games last month virtually everyone was saying these were 50/50 games and too close to call, yet now we are given very little credit for winning them.

As for the point that we only beat Monaghan because of a lucky goal, we should've been out of sight at half time only for some woeful shooting and decision making (which also came back to haunt us in the final).

Going forward I think we could really do with having a real push for the League next year. If we were to win it or make the final it would be a huge confidence boost for this team and cement our position as a really top team. It would also be huge for this team if we could beat Dublin in the league. I think deep down the players this year may have had their doubts about whether they were capable of winning that final and perhaps thats why the first goal was such a hammer blow even though it only brought the sides level. Whereas if we could beat them in the League the players would think we can beat them in the Championship as well

yeah I agree with your points. We should have been out of sight for the Monaghan game but as I said our shooting let us down again and again in the final. It is annoying to see that our shooting is a constant issue for the last number of years.

I am aware that our system has changed and evolved but again our shooting hasnt. Over the last few games Tyrone players done 90% of the hard work in turning over the opposition, getting the ball into a scoring position then either kicking badly wide or dropping it into the keepers hands.

1st half of the Monaghan game I think 8 wides were kicked along with 4 dropped short into keepers hands. Against Dublin it was 16 wides. We can only go so far without addressing this.

Agree with you about the league. Target at least a semi final in the league and build upon that.

It does say alot about the players belief in themselves whenever Colm came out and said they were shocked to be 5-1 up against the Dubs. The team of the 00s wouldnt have been shocked, the would have turned the screw even more.

[The fact remains that we haven't beaten 1 any of the big teams (Dublin, Kerry, Mayo) since 2009]

I think after the euphoria from the weekend subsides and we sit down and thoroughly assess where we're at, we'll find we are probably as far away as we have been since 2011.

The fact remains that we haven't beaten 1 any of the big teams (Dublin, Kerry, Mayo) since 2009. No team that we have beaten in a knock-out match since 2013 has went on to win the All-Ireland. We are a fair ways behind both Mayo and Kerry. We benefited greatly from both of them having an off year. We were glorified Ulster Champions by virtue of the Super 8. The All Ireland Final was over as a contest after 33mins. I'm by no means a Harte basher but we have to be honest. It's not good enough. Only for a fortuitous Darren Hughes block which resulted in Sludden's goal it was 50/50 whether or not we were going to beat Monaghan. I'm not sure if a management team needs assembled, or if we're simply not good enough but since we lost to Mayo in 2016, everything has been geared towards to the Dubs both fitness wise and system wise, and now twice we have come up short. I detest mentioning him but I listen to Wooly Parkinson but he called it completely right last week, Colly Cav and/or his role was completely negated by the Dubs, so essentially we were 15 v 14 for the whole match. I'm just not sure where we go or what we do from here, if we're not as fit as the Dubs, then do we need a new trainer, if our system is outdated then do we need a new manager? Or is it simply that we don't have the players? I'm sure we will all watch club championship games over the next few months and see classy, strong athletic players who we know just won't fit in with Mickey's plan. So I'll let you all discuss.

Also been saying this

And its now 3 times, in 2 years, Dublin have beaten Tyrone while only in 3rd gear

I would counter that by saying that, with the obvious exception of Dublin who are probably the best team ever, we have beaten whoever has been put infront of us in the last two seasons. I would argue that 2017 and 2018 are the strongest teams Tyrone have had since at least 2010 and it's not their fault that they haven't been drawn against Mayo, Kerry or even Galway this year as I see no reason why we couldn't have beaten any of them and then this wouldn't be a stick that could be used to beat this Tyrone team

I entirely agree, lazy analysis. As things stand, in my view we are a better team than the other teams mentioned in 2018, maybe not until 2017, but  because we haven't played them in 2018 doesn't mean we haven't surpassed them.

I wouldn't call it lazy analysis at all. Monaghan knocked us out in the first game of the championship, the lucky goal we got made it look a bit more respectable. We struggled badly against Meath and should have been knocked out in normal time. Had a few easy games and then almost kicked ourselves out of it against Monaghan in the semi final.

We have played Dublin, Kerry and Mayo numerous times in the last 10 years in either the Quarter finals, Semi finals or Final and we have been well beaten on every single occasion. 

This will continue for at least another 3 years as Harte refuses to change anything. Its as clear as day to every ex Tyrone player, sports writer, TV presenter etc that we need to make changes but I can 100% guarantee that we wont. Harte seems determined to prove everyone wrong by playing the same players with the same set up hoping that they will win. Its utter madness.

Next year Tyrone may win Ulster but with Donegal and Monaghan improving it is looking unlikely. They may get through the Super 8s depending on the group but as soon as they meet Mayo, Dublin or Kerry they will be knocked out. Its ground hog day in Tyrone the past 10 years.

We won a few easy games and then beat Monaghan in the semi final? Did you just ignore the fact that we went up to Ballybofey and beat Donegal there for the first time since 1973? The current Ulster champions who had won it at their ease? Even the Roscommon game was seen as a tricky match. They had drawn with Mayo at the same stage last year and played some great football beating Armagh. They also had put it up to Galway. We effectively ended their season that day so their subsequent matches can be ignored.

I've saw a lot of people saying Harte won't change things and everything is the same as last year. No offence but that is absolute rubbish. He added O'Neill to the backroom team and made 6/7 changes to the starting 15 from last year. And although it didn't work our tactics were very different to last year versus Dublin. We by and large went man for man and didn't sit with a blanket defence. We tried to press higher up the pitch and altered tactics within the games.

I'd like to see us focus on playing more man for man next year. We really need to focus on kickouts (both our own and opposition) as they are so crucial at taking on Dublin. Forward play also needs looked at obviously with a lot more focus on getting the ball into the right area's.

Kerry and Mayo were poor in this year's championship so I've no idea why would need to beat them to prove we were the second best team. Monaghan should have beat Kerry by 7 or 8 points. Galway have a lot to prove still as well and lost easily to the Monaghan team we knocked out.

Overall it has been a positive season with a number of players improving. Still lots to work on but I'd be hopeful the players won't back down from the challenge. I'm sure they'll be a lot more dignified than some of the boys on here and there over the top personal criticisms/abuse.

Just to make it clear I am offering constructive criticism, I am not bashing anyone but no one can or should ignore that we still have work to do. I care about Tyrone football and want them to reach their potential. 

Donegal won the easiest Ulster in recent years. This Dongeal team are an up and coming team and are not the finished article. You make it sound like we beat the old Dongeal team of Jim Guinness.

Harte added O'Neill to the back room team but is he allowing him to have a big input? If you look at the last 3-4 years shooting has been and is still one of our biggest issues. Our players still make poor decisions even though most of these players have been about for a few years now. I would like to see it set up a bit like American football where we have a defensive coach and an attacking coach. I just dont think O'Neill is being given the freedom he should be.

Agreed I would like us to go man to man more. While our performance has improved against Dublin compared with last year everyone knew Colm does not play well against the Dubs as they bypass his sweeper role. There was enough articles written before the game highlighting this. He should have been pushed up the field more to put Dublin on the back foot.

This Tyrone team need to beat a Kerry, Mayo or Dublin in order to give them confidence that they can do it. I sort of think its like a mental road block. Beating Donegal at home was a good start but they need to be confident that they can beat the top teams which hasnt happened this last number of years.

I agree people should not have bashing for the sake of bashing but at the same point there is no point in year after year patting them on the back saying well done when with a few more positive improvements and addressing failings such as shooting they could be winning AIs.

[The fact remains that we haven't beaten 1 any of the big teams (Dublin, Kerry, Mayo) since 2009]

I think after the euphoria from the weekend subsides and we sit down and thoroughly assess where we're at, we'll find we are probably as far away as we have been since 2011.

The fact remains that we haven't beaten 1 any of the big teams (Dublin, Kerry, Mayo) since 2009. No team that we have beaten in a knock-out match since 2013 has went on to win the All-Ireland. We are a fair ways behind both Mayo and Kerry. We benefited greatly from both of them having an off year. We were glorified Ulster Champions by virtue of the Super 8. The All Ireland Final was over as a contest after 33mins. I'm by no means a Harte basher but we have to be honest. It's not good enough. Only for a fortuitous Darren Hughes block which resulted in Sludden's goal it was 50/50 whether or not we were going to beat Monaghan. I'm not sure if a management team needs assembled, or if we're simply not good enough but since we lost to Mayo in 2016, everything has been geared towards to the Dubs both fitness wise and system wise, and now twice we have come up short. I detest mentioning him but I listen to Wooly Parkinson but he called it completely right last week, Colly Cav and/or his role was completely negated by the Dubs, so essentially we were 15 v 14 for the whole match. I'm just not sure where we go or what we do from here, if we're not as fit as the Dubs, then do we need a new trainer, if our system is outdated then do we need a new manager? Or is it simply that we don't have the players? I'm sure we will all watch club championship games over the next few months and see classy, strong athletic players who we know just won't fit in with Mickey's plan. So I'll let you all discuss.

Also been saying this

And its now 3 times, in 2 years, Dublin have beaten Tyrone while only in 3rd gear

I would counter that by saying that, with the obvious exception of Dublin who are probably the best team ever, we have beaten whoever has been put infront of us in the last two seasons. I would argue that 2017 and 2018 are the strongest teams Tyrone have had since at least 2010 and it's not their fault that they haven't been drawn against Mayo, Kerry or even Galway this year as I see no reason why we couldn't have beaten any of them and then this wouldn't be a stick that could be used to beat this Tyrone team

I entirely agree, lazy analysis. As things stand, in my view we are a better team than the other teams mentioned in 2018, maybe not until 2017, but  because we haven't played them in 2018 doesn't mean we haven't surpassed them.

I wouldn't call it lazy analysis at all. Monaghan knocked us out in the first game of the championship, the lucky goal we got made it look a bit more respectable. We struggled badly against Meath and should have been knocked out in normal time. Had a few easy games and then almost kicked ourselves out of it against Monaghan in the semi final.

We have played Dublin, Kerry and Mayo numerous times in the last 10 years in either the Quarter finals, Semi finals or Final and we have been well beaten on every single occasion. 

This will continue for at least another 3 years as Harte refuses to change anything. Its as clear as day to every ex Tyrone player, sports writer, TV presenter etc that we need to make changes but I can 100% guarantee that we wont. Harte seems determined to prove everyone wrong by playing the same players with the same set up hoping that they will win. Its utter madness.

Next year Tyrone may win Ulster but with Donegal and Monaghan improving it is looking unlikely. They may get through the Super 8s depending on the group but as soon as they meet Mayo, Dublin or Kerry they will be knocked out. Its ground hog day in Tyrone the past 10 years.

[Peter Harte]

Unfortunately the final in the end kind of passed Tyrone by, it was a huge ask to begin with as almost we all acknowledged.

The really annoying thing from a Tyrone point of view is that our so called stellar players, the final passed them by even more glaringly - Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly, Niall Sludden and Colm Cavanagh were very poor (who I pointed out that the Dubs target prior and after the Super 8 game). Obviously they were up against the best, but these were the guys that were meant to lead the charge and impose themselves. I thought R.Brennan done rightly and certainly you wouldn't be worried about throwing him into the starting team from here on. Mark Bradley as well.

Looking ahead, Tyrone are in a relatively decent place - Dublin can't and won't go forever. Mayo and Kerry have a new set up to come. Monaghan will be gutted - but will certainly be back next year almong the final 4 or so depending on the draw.

Up to Mickey Harte now to get out and look at the club championship, if Dublin can pull a Eoin Murchan out of nowhere to essentially kill an opposition player with his athleticism, Tyrone should be looking to invest in a few project players - we badly, badly need big men into that team in the forward line or at least big men able to sit in Midfield, not saying these guys need to play every game but horses for courses - Tyrone got the penalty from the most basic of tactics (never a penalty btw). These 'samey' type players are really not what we need going forward, every game.

I thought Peter was one of the better performers on the day. Albeit I haven't watched it back on TV.

I thought the same at the game actually UNTIL I watched it back on TV.

Watching the match back it was criminal how many points Dublin scored while under no pressure. There was at least 6 or 7 points in the 2nd half where there was no tyrone player with 5 yards of the dublin scorer. Tyrone must have been out on there feet in the 2nd half as i have never seen them like that before

Said it already but what about Kyle Coney? Would he be worth another shot? He sounds up for it based on his article last week.

There was talk about Harte phoning him up asking him to come back during the qualifiers when ever Brennan and Bradley were out injured. I heard it on good authority that he flatly turned them down. If that is true I would doubt if Mickey would go asking him again. Besides hes 28 now, no point in bringing him back for a year or two. Took him 10 years to figure out you have to put in the hard work.

Mickey is better off looking at new players who put in the effort and are hungry for success. I would like to see McNulty playing more. I have only seen him a few times but I remember being impressed at his direct running, plus he is a massive lad that could be used in midfield or in full forward line for Brennan or Bradley to feed off.

Tyrone ones some cheek gurning about Dublin & money with Mickey Harte on £75k a year

£75k a year??? Jesus that cant be right. Where did you hear that. If thats right then Jim Gavin must be easily £150k

For the last 3-4 years Tyrone have had the same problem, poor shooting and decision making. I for the life of me cant figure out why this isnt being addressed at management level, if it is then is simply hasn't worked. Stephen O'Neill was one of the best forwards about, is it that he is not allowed to teach them his way?

In addition they need to sort out Morgans mental strength, he is a solid keeper but when he makes 1 mistake he is guaranteed to make a few more right after it. He just needs to shake it off and reset after the 1st mistake.

For some reason Mickey seems to favour the more athletic type of player rather than someone with natural skill. He has to find a few more natural forwards in order to win the big games. Having a fit team of 15 is grand and will win you most games but there is no point in having fit players that constantly kick wides or drop the ball short.

Hopefully Lee Brennan goes next year injury free as he will get better with more game time.

But I have an awful feeling we will be talking about shooting and decision making next year again as I think Micky is too stubborn to change.

So who will go from the panel this year. I would say McCarron McCrory R.O'Neill

Why would Ronan O'Neill go?  What age is he?

Ronan is still young but he has to be asking himself what is the point of staying around. I would doubt if he has clocked up more than 4 hours game time in a Tyrone jersey this year. McNulty may be another one, I dont think he has came on since he got sent off against Mayo.

Why would anyone stay on year after year of training and sacrifice to only get a few guest appearances all year.

Jesus he came on in an all Ireland final.  He isn't that far away like.

Ach now. He came on because Mickey had literally no other attacking options. Do you think he brought him on to turn the match around? The game was over before he brought him on.

All I am saying is that it must be very difficult to train all year and only get a few minutes of game time here and there.

So who will go from the panel this year. I would say McCarron McCrory R.O'Neill

Why would Ronan O'Neill go?  What age is he?

Ronan is still young but he has to be asking himself what is the point of staying around. I would doubt if he has clocked up more than 4 hours game time in a Tyrone jersey this year. McNulty may be another one, I dont think he has came on since he got sent off against Mayo.

Why would anyone stay on year after year of training and sacrifice to only get a few guest appearances all year.

Alot of complaining done about the banquet tickets being £100. I thought that wasn't bad compared to other galas.

What is the banquet like? Thinking of going but would like to hear from anyone that has been to all Ireland banquet. Is there much craic or are you stuck in an awful set far away from the team?

A little bit of reality needed. Tyrone have beaten Monaghan again in Croke park just like 2013 and 2015 only this time in a Semi final. We all know what happened after. The personnel hasn't changed much especially in attack. That's where the problems mainly lay. It's gonna be a tough ask in two weeks.

I agree with you there. Hartes done a great job considering the players at his disposal.

Why do you think their are problems in attack? Mickey s poor tactics. The RTE boycott has been going on now since 2011 for no apparent reason other than Mickey didn't like getting ridiculed because his bestie didn't get a big job on the TV station. Looks like Harte comes first in Tyrone and f**k the players and their moment in the sun.

Are people just ignorant or do they purposely misrepresent the reasons why Harte has a problem with RTE?

Could be both. I have been critical of Mickey over the last 6-7 years but I fully agree with him not speaking with RTE. If someone disrespected a deceased relative of mine, not speaking to them would be the nicest thing I would do.