Tyrone County Football and Hurling

[toby47]

John McEntee's comment about Lee Brennan were a bit rash in his article in todays Irish News. Very quick to write a young player off who had a very good league campaign and has been shooting the lights out in club & underage county football this past few years.



Take Tyrone, for example. Trillick's high-scoring forward Lee Brennan has big shoes to fill if he is to take the place of Stephen O'Neill as the Red Hands' go-to man.

This is Lee's first year as a regular starter. To be the primary scorer and to thrive in the white heat of Championship football would seem to be a tough ask for one so young.

I've played alongside very fine footballers who could kick points for fun in club games and in training matches, but to perform on Championship Sunday takes a special kind of guy, someone with a self-confidence forged from many years of having the answers to the questions others pose.

If Tyrone are to win, Brennan (if fit) must be the guy who provides the icing on the cake rather than the guy who bakes the cake. He is not yet ready to carry that responsibility.

That comment doesn't come across as writing him off. Is suggesting he is NOT YET ready... in other words a bit early to cast him as the main man. I think that's fair enough

In an article about the ulster championship as a whole (and Lee Brennan is the only current player named in the whole article) I thought it was negative enough to concentrate in on one player and liken him to a man who can kick points in club and training but not in a championship game.

[Fuzzman]

Maybe its small man syndrome but I could never get that argument about starting two small men at the same time.
If they're good enough then they're big enough in my eyes.
In my eyes Lee Brennan is the first forward we've had since Mugsy who has an eye for goal. He can sniff a chance out of nothing and can take it. You can see in his movement he's got that natural attacking instinct and flair but of course if he's double marked like many's a good player he wont do much unless he comes out the field.

I think Bradley will flourish more now that Lee is there with him and they know what sort of ball they need into them and not big long high hoofs. I am really looking forward to this game and think we will continue where we left off last summer before the Dublin disaster.

Remember we were putting up some huge scores last year without Lee and Skeet. Not bad for a team labelled as so negative and defensive.

Derry   0-11   
Tyrone   0-22

Tyrone   1-21
Donegal    1-12

Tyrone   2-17
Down    0.15

Tyrone   3-17
Armagh   0.08

Derry   0-11   
Tyrone   0-22

Tyrone   1-21
Donegal    1-12

Tyrone   2-17
Down    0.15

Tyrone   0.11
Dublin   2.17

re Lee yeah I think its a bit of Armagh jealousy and maybe saying he's only a young lad who has done nothing yet. It could help motivate him tbh.

[longballin]

John McEntee's comment about Lee Brennan were a bit rash in his article in todays Irish News. Very quick to write a young player off who had a very good league campaign and has been shooting the lights out in club & underage county football this past few years.



Take Tyrone, for example. Trillick's high-scoring forward Lee Brennan has big shoes to fill if he is to take the place of Stephen O'Neill as the Red Hands' go-to man.

This is Lee's first year as a regular starter. To be the primary scorer and to thrive in the white heat of Championship football would seem to be a tough ask for one so young.

I've played alongside very fine footballers who could kick points for fun in club games and in training matches, but to perform on Championship Sunday takes a special kind of guy, someone with a self-confidence forged from many years of having the answers to the questions others pose.

If Tyrone are to win, Brennan (if fit) must be the guy who provides the icing on the cake rather than the guy who bakes the cake. He is not yet ready to carry that responsibility.

That comment doesn't come across as writing him off. Is suggesting he is NOT YET ready... in other words a bit early to cast him as the main man. I think that's fair enough

In an article about the ulster championship as a whole (and Lee Brennan is the only current player named in the whole article) I thought it was negative enough to concentrate in on one player and liken him to a man who can kick points in club and training but not in a championship game.

Ok I need to read it all.... was just going by sentence you put up.

[BennyHarp]

I think it's fairly lazy of McEntee to be comparing Lee Brennan to Steven O'Neill or suggesting he is taking on that role, he's clearly not in that category at the minute (it doesn't take a football genius to point that out) but he's the best finisher we have got. It's an easy throw away line as a journalist to give a back handed criticism to say a player isn't as good as Steven O'Neill or another great player from their county. There aren't many forwards in the whole of Ireland as good as Stevie, is he going to go through every team in Ulster and say their best forward isn't as good as Steven O'Neill? If Lee kicks 1-5 or 0-6 or 0-8 in games be that from play or frees and doesn't do another thing then as far as I'm concerned it's his job done. I wouldn't be heaping pressure on him to be the next O'Neill but if he does turn into that type of player, what a bonus that would be.

[square_ball]

You are all very sensitive. Thought it was a fair enough analysis. He's been the saviour according to this very forum for the past few years. If anything it took the pressure completely off Brennan. You only have to look at Monaghan and Jack McCarron he had a great league campaign last year and a terrible championship.

[Redhand Santa]

If you were to play Brennan and Bradley in the forward line I think Bradley would have to go to centre half forward like he did in 2015. I'm not sure you'd get away with both in the full forward line.

I'd love to see us play a higher press game and push up on kick outs this year. If we don't have the ball players should drop back but the objective should be to get the ball back as quick as possible, not to mark space.

[southtyronegael]

i think lee brennan has the potential to go right to the top. but then i thought that about raymond mulgrew, kyle coney and ronan o neill so i wont get my hopes up too much.

[longballin]

I think it's fairly lazy of McEntee to be comparing Lee Brennan to Steven O'Neill or suggesting he is taking on that role, he's clearly not in that category at the minute (it doesn't take a football genius to point that out) but he's the best finisher we have got. It's an easy throw away line as a journalist to give a back handed criticism to say a player isn't as good as Steven O'Neill or another great player from their county. There aren't many forwards in the whole of Ireland as good as Stevie, is he going to go through every team in Ulster and say their best forward isn't as good as Steven O'Neill? If Lee kicks 1-5 or 0-6 or 0-8 in games be that from play or frees and doesn't do another thing then as far as I'm concerned it's his job done. I wouldn't be heaping pressure on him to be the next O'Neill but if he does turn into that type of player, what a bonus that would be.

he's hardy a journalist

[the goal was on]

Heard tonight Colm cav and Brennan both played internal game aover weekend in Johnson house, cav was sprinting up and down sideline for about 15 mins and then joined in with group. Was hell for leather by all accounts

[BennyHarp]

You are all very sensitive. Thought it was a fair enough analysis. He's been the saviour according to this very forum for the past few years. If anything it took the pressure completely off Brennan. You only have to look at Monaghan and Jack McCarron he had a great league campaign last year and a terrible championship.

Not being sensitive, just thought it was a bit of lazy analysis to compare his role in the team with that of Steven O'Neill. Does he compare the best young Armagh player to Stevie McDonnell and suggest he's not up to that level? It's hardly ground breaking analysis to suggest Lee, who hasn't kicked a championship ball yet, isn't at that level.

[BennyHarp]

I think it's fairly lazy of McEntee to be comparing Lee Brennan to Steven O'Neill or suggesting he is taking on that role, he's clearly not in that category at the minute (it doesn't take a football genius to point that out) but he's the best finisher we have got. It's an easy throw away line as a journalist to give a back handed criticism to say a player isn't as good as Steven O'Neill or another great player from their county. There aren't many forwards in the whole of Ireland as good as Stevie, is he going to go through every team in Ulster and say their best forward isn't as good as Steven O'Neill? If Lee kicks 1-5 or 0-6 or 0-8 in games be that from play or frees and doesn't do another thing then as far as I'm concerned it's his job done. I wouldn't be heaping pressure on him to be the next O'Neill but if he does turn into that type of player, what a bonus that would be.

he's hardy a journalist

Pundit then 🙄

[longballin]

I think it's fairly lazy of McEntee to be comparing Lee Brennan to Steven O'Neill or suggesting he is taking on that role, he's clearly not in that category at the minute (it doesn't take a football genius to point that out) but he's the best finisher we have got. It's an easy throw away line as a journalist to give a back handed criticism to say a player isn't as good as Steven O'Neill or another great player from their county. There aren't many forwards in the whole of Ireland as good as Stevie, is he going to go through every team in Ulster and say their best forward isn't as good as Steven O'Neill? If Lee kicks 1-5 or 0-6 or 0-8 in games be that from play or frees and doesn't do another thing then as far as I'm concerned it's his job done. I wouldn't be heaping pressure on him to be the next O'Neill but if he does turn into that type of player, what a bonus that would be.

he's hardy a journalist

Pundit then 🙄

former GAA player 

[Fuzzman]

Talk is cheap and I wouldn't be putting too much interest in what an ex Armagh player says.
Like these were lads who wore rounded triangles on their jerseys hoping it would be the last piece of the jigsaw to bring them over the line. Did he have much impact on Mayo last year?

It will be interesting to see what impact Paddy Tally has on Galway this year.
Some people have promoted them back into the mix of being a top team judging by their league showing this year whereas others are wondering are they still a top 8 team like Monaghan or Tiperrary but no better than that. Time will tell I suppose but I'd be delighted to come up against either of those 3 in an AI semifinal like Wexford in 2008.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0327/950400-jordan-paddy-tally/

Anyone know how McCarron is doing? I thought he looked a bit slowish in the league and wondered could he be on his way out. He's older now with a family and your priorities change at that age. I wouldn't be surprised to see him and McNamee dropped.

http://www.gaa.ie/football/news/ronan-mcnamee-leading-the-tyrone-charge/

[Ethan Tremblay]

Thought his comment was fair enough.  Comparisons like this are made throughout each county, when a talented player comes along, e.g. Jamie Clarke – Mc Conville, David Clifford – Gooch.  I think the point he was putting across that the cream of the crop rises during the championship when everything is on the line each game. 

He is right in saying putting up massive scores against a club team mean nothing when your up against a genuine top class defender in Croke Park in August, but is he is wrong in thinking he isn't ready to take the mantle of talisman forward? Time will tell...

[BennyHarp]

Thought his comment was fair enough.  Comparisons like this are made throughout each county, when a talented player comes along, e.g. Jamie Clarke – Mc Conville, David Clifford – Gooch.  I think the point he was putting across that the cream of the crop rises during the championship when everything is on the line each game. 

He is right in saying putting up massive scores against a club team mean nothing when your up against a genuine top class defender in Croke Park in August, but is he is wrong in thinking he isn't ready to take the mantle of talisman forward? Time will tell...

Is it good analysis though? Maybe I'm wrong but I'd expect someone of McEntee's experience to be analysing how Tyrone may (or may not) be adapting their offensive strategy from previous seasons to get their forwards more into scoring positions and the role the likes of Lee Brennan will play in this. Rather than making a fairly lazy comparison to Steven O'Neil and the churning out the tired old line about the white heat of championship footballl. I don't need to be a former county player to tell you that Lee currently isn't as good as Stevie or that Clifford may take a few seasons to get to the level of Gooch. But I'd expect a little bit of insight into how are these teams going to use these players in their debut season from someone like McEntee. Lee Brennan could be very effective for Tyrone this summer without ever hitting the heights that O'Neill did.