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Happy enough with that draw. Some high quality matches there.

I'd say the opposite to be fair. Donegal/Kerry the only standout fixture, the rest have a McKenna Cup feel to them.

I'll not berate this format too much for fear that we'd return to the dreaded "group stage" format that is just an aberration in Gaelic football. But let's talk about this round of games as what they are, win and you're still in the championship. Lose and you're still in the championship. There's pretty much next to nothing at stake here. I mean what interest does anyone have in a match where Cork play Meath and both remain in the championship? Or Roscommon v Tyrone?


It's also bit of a cod that a Cavan team who've been beyond atrocious this year are just a win against Westmeath away from a AI q-final.

That's a good point. £25 entrance fee and it literally doesn't matter if you win or lose. No points at stake and if you lose you are still in anyways.

Of course it matters if you win or lose. If you win you are one game from a quarter final and still have a second chance. If you lose you are two games from a quarter final and no more chances.

Also the teams who win first two games will have a week off before quarter finals.

It'll be Armagh and Monaghan in the draw (and not Ulster winner/runner up). So won't matter how you do in the final as to who you get.

It would be down, Cavan and then Tyrone. Down definitely in danger. Other two probably ok.

If Kildare don't reach the leinster final, cavan are out of sam by my reckoning, one more upset somewhere and Tyrone are gone too!!!

No they aren't, Cavan would be next in line to go.

Personally think we need more ball winners and power in the half forward line. We're getting cleaned out on breaking ball and generally no where near enough aggression. If everyone fit apart from Canavan (which I'm sure they won't be) I'd be going with:

Morgan
Clark
Hampsey
Quinn
McKernan
Teague
Devlin
Kilpatrick
Kennedy
McGeary
O'Donnell
Oguz/Ben McDonnell
McElholm
Donnelly
Cassidy

Leaving likes of Ruari and McCurry to come in.

Main contenders at the minute are probably Teague, Hampsey or Brennan. It could vary depending on opposition. But definitely think we're too open playing McKernan there. O'Neill seems to be doing a good job for Queen's at the minute but could be early for him in that position.

I'd go with something like this:

N Morgan
A Clark (probably have to pick up McGuigan)
R Brennan
J Clarke
R Cassidy
M Donnelly (temporary solution to try and hold middle)
M McKernan
C Kilpatrick
B Kennedy
C O'Neill
J Oguz
C Daly
M Conroy
E McElholm
E Jordan

Hold Canavan back as not up to fitness yet and McElholm might not have 70 minutes in it.

It was a fairly poor performance overall but some very over the top reaction to it as well. There was six players on that have played little or no senior county football. You have to give them a chance to settle in. It's hard when there's so many in one go but wasn't much choice with injuries.

A lot of supporters giving out about their teams having no tactics on kick outs. But under new rules when opposition press it's very hard to do anything but kick to a contest. I thought Tyrone were brutal at competing in those contests in the first half though. Kildare got lot of easy clean catches. By his standards a poor night from Morgan.

There was signs a few of the new players like Clarke and Jordan can make it. But badly need a few ball winners in the half forward line.

Thought mcglennon, Jordan and Conroy decent enough tonight. Some poor performances. Who impressed others?

Good to see Kennedy back but rusty

Conroy has been poor enough all 3 games. He is accurate from free's but also kicks a lot of silly snapshots and gives the ball away far too often. Doesn't matter that much as he'll be nowhere near that forward line come championship time

He's kicked 1-5 from play in last two games, been involved in a few goals and linked play well. Long way to go to make it in the summer but it's been a decent start.

Jordan looked very lively tonight, pity he went off at half time with presumably an injury.

Do they not have 9 senior clubs and 7 divisional teams (made up of intermediate and junior players) in senior championship. So 10th best team enters Munster from a strong football county with nearly 60 clubs?

Would it not be fairer if their junior champs went into intermediate?

Would like to see a good experimental team in the McKenna Cup with boys who haven't had much time previously. Based on this years club championship and Tyrone u20's in recent years I'd like to see something like this:

Darragh McAnenely
Conor Devlin
Shane Hughes
Steve Donaghy
Joey Clarke
Ronan Fox
Dalaigh Jones
Ruari McHugh
Oisin McCann
Cathal Donaghy
Conor O'Neill
Lorcan McGarrity
Michael Conroy
Paul Donaghy (unlikely to commit)
Ethan Jordan

Subs:
Callum Daly
Gavin Potter
James Quinn
Matthew Quinn
Cathoir Gallagher
Ronan Cassidy

Quinn and Devlin have loads of potential and they're good young  players, I'm not writing them off in future, but our FB line of Quinn, Teague and Devlin hasn't a patch on our last AI winning FB lines of Hampsey, McNamee and McKernan. When you look back at it they were a fantastic trio of defenders.

That wasn't the full back line yesterday, Teague was half back. Also, I don't think Quinn is young to be calling one for the future. Had a good game yesterday.

Surely to be in with a chance we need to be starting with closer to our strongest team - so Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte starting. Half forward line was a major issue against Armagh and them two would immediately improve it. Then you can have potential impact players like McElholm, O'Donnell, Ruairi, Oguz coming on as the tiredness creeps in. I think Hampsey has to come into the full back line probably at the expense of Devlin, and a fit Mark Bradley also has to start.
Morgan, Hamspey, Teague, Quinn, McKernan, Brennan, McGeary, Kennedy, Kilpatrick, Daly/Donaghy, Mattie, Peter Harte, McCurry, Bradley, D Canavan.

I'd probably start Devlin ahead of Bradley and rejig the team (Teague could possibly go out to half back line or Devlin). Going to need a lot of running power around the middle sector. The last day we struggled badly to win ball when played both Canavans and McCurry. Could see Clark coming back in for Quinn in the full back line.

Also by playing Devlin it would mean Mattie and Harte could share being one of the 3 up to save energy.

If you could get a competitive Leinster again then all the more reason to keep the provincials.

But the current season does not work. If keeping the provincials and playing them post league they have to have more importance. Personally liked the system around covid time when provincial winners went straight to quarter finals. Runners up joined teams from division 1/2 in 2 rounds of back door games to make the quarter finals.

That would increase the value of the provincials and the leagues. Currently every competition is being devalued with a drawn out load of meaningless games.

In the likes of Armagh the county men hardly play any league games at all. If anything this totally devalues it. In Tyrone the leagues are taken much more seriously than other counties and are much better for it.

If the county board where more concerned about the county team they'd play away without the county men who currently have a tough all year schedule.

Next year the starred games are increased which should allow for slightly earlier start. I personally think things are well run in Tyrone.