This weekend - 10 years ago

[BennyCake]

I'm no Tyrone fan, but that's the greatest load of bollocks I've ever heard.

Interesting too that for all the talk about defensive play etc, that period of sustained tackling and pressure was in the opponents half. Puke analysis more like.

- Was Harte and Tyrone not the first to involve solicitors in appealing match bans?
- Was he not the first manager to ignore rules on universities having first pick of players? (which will ultimately lead to the demise of McKenna Cup. It's already started this year with QUB withdrawing).
- Was he not the only manager in 2003 that his team didn't give Armagh a guard of honour? (is he really that bitter?)
- Is he not doing the GAA a major disservice by boycotting the main GAA broadcaster, therefore not giving our games the coverage it merits, and stopping fans seeing and hearing more of their idols?
-Wasn't he firmly against bringing in the Mark, knowing well he had no great high-fielding midfielders, which would hinder how his team play?

The facts speak for themselves. He has set precedents with all these actions, and I stand by my comments that the GAA is poorer for these actions. Sportsmanship and fair play, yeah right!

And I haven't even mentioned his tactics/behaviour of his team.

[BennyHarp]

I'm no Tyrone fan, but that's the greatest load of bollocks I've ever heard.

Interesting too that for all the talk about defensive play etc, that period of sustained tackling and pressure was in the opponents half. Puke analysis more like.

- Was Harte and Tyrone not the first to involve solicitors in appealing match bans? Why shouldn't players get a fair hearing? Are Tyrone the only ones to do this?
- Was he not the first manager to ignore rules on universities having first pick of players? (which will ultimately lead to the demise of McKenna Cup. It's already started this year with QUB withdrawing). The McKenna cup survived long before the universities played and will survive after. Hartes responsibility is to HIS team - no other. The Unis added nothing to this competition in my view
- Was he not the only manager in 2003 that his team didn't give Armagh a guard of honour? (is he really that bitter?) if we are talking bitter - look in the mirror fella
- Is he not doing the GAA a major disservice by boycotting the main GAA broadcaster, therefore not giving our games the coverage it merits, and stopping fans seeing and hearing more of their idols? Have you any idea of the reason behind the boycott? I just hope you never have to deal with the things Mickey has had to deal with - never mind having it ridiculed by the state broadcaster
-Wasn't he firmly against bringing in the Mark, knowing well he had no great high-fielding midfielders, which would hinder how his team play? We play Gaelic football - not Aussie rules - the mark slows the game and would bastardise the game as we know it

The facts speak for themselves. He has set precedents with all these actions, and I stand by my comments that the GAA is poorer for these actions. Sportsmanship and fair play, yeah right!

And I haven't even mentioned his tactics/behaviour of his team.

Well done Mickey for standing up for his team and his sport

[BennyCake]

I'm no Tyrone fan, but that's the greatest load of bollocks I've ever heard. 

Interesting too that for all the talk about defensive play etc, that period of sustained tackling and pressure was in the opponents half. Puke analysis more like.

- Was Harte and Tyrone not the first to involve solicitors in appealing match bans? Why shouldn't players get a fair hearing? Are Tyrone the only ones to do this?
- Was he not the first manager to ignore rules on universities having first pick of players? (which will ultimately lead to the demise of McKenna Cup. It's already started this year with QUB withdrawing). The McKenna cup survived long before the universities played and will survive after. Hartes responsibility is to HIS team - no other. The Unis added nothing to this competition in my view
- Was he not the only manager in 2003 that his team didn't give Armagh a guard of honour? (is he really that bitter?) if we are talking bitter - look in the mirror fella
- Is he not doing the GAA a major disservice by boycotting the main GAA broadcaster, therefore not giving our games the coverage it merits, and stopping fans seeing and hearing more of their idols? Have you any idea of the reason behind the boycott? I just hope you never have to deal with the things Mickey has had to deal with - never mind having it ridiculed by the state broadcaster
-Wasn't he firmly against bringing in the Mark, knowing well he had no great high-fielding midfielders, which would hinder how his team play? We play Gaelic football - not Aussie rules - the mark slows the game and would bastardise the game as we know it

The facts speak for themselves. He has set precedents with all these actions, and I stand by my comments that the GAA is poorer for these actions. Sportsmanship and fair play, yeah right!

And I haven't even mentioned his tactics/behaviour of his team.

Well done Mickey for standing up for his team and his sport

Re: bans. Tyrone aren't the only ones, but they were the first.

Re: McKenna cup - the uni's breathed new life into the competition. Nobody cared about it, but the uni's and new format increased attendances and interest substantially.

Re: guard of honour - I'm not bitter. Why would I be bitter? 

Re: boycott. Yes I do know the reason for it. His players should have the choice to be interviewed by RTE though, even if he doesn't.

Re: the Mark. I agree with you on it. But it's one rule (there have been others too) he has continually criticised as it doesn't fit into his playing style.

[Redhand Santa]

A lot has been said about Tyrone over the past 10 years but what many people seem to ignore is that they have been involved in some of the very best games and provided so much entertainment.

The games varied in nature from high scoring games to wars of attrition. The 2 All Ireland finals against Kerry were as good as any All Ireland finals. The intense battle against Armagh in 2005 had everyone on the edge of their seats. The games against Dublin that year were also of the highest quality. The ulster final against Down in 2003 was also one of the best ulster finals in many years. Tyrone came from 9 down to draw it 4-8 to 1-17. The league semi finals against Galway in 2004 were other excellent games as was the Down replay in 2008. Even last year the Armagh game was one of the better matches of the championship.

What was lost in the poor punditry was the pure volume of top class matches Tyrone were involved in during the period.

[easytiger95]

Speaking as a Dub, with no particular skin in the fight, everyone forgets the first half performance against Kerry in 2003, when they completely blew them out of the water football wise for the first 25 minutes - the pity was they didn't keep their foot on the pedal for the rest of the game. The 2005 quarter final games against us were pure class, and mostly pure football, while the 2005 final was perhaps the best All Ireland final of the last 10 years (I'd even go 15 maybe - it was a proper heavyweight bout).

And as for their performance against us in 2008 in the rain, it was like being dissected by a bunch of players who weren't only on a different level, but were playing a different game. Perhaps the biggest step in Dublin's current evolution/ revolution came with beating Tyrone in 2010, and then following that up with the more comprehensive performance in 2011. Along with Kerry they were the benchmark - and look at the players they produced - Canavan, McGuigan, O'Neill, Dooher, Cavanagh, Gormley, McMenamin (teeth gritting!), Mulligan, McAnallen - any team would have killed to have winners like them.

The present team is not near that standard, and the fact they got that far on limited resources is a tribute to Harte, in his talent for making players believe they can compete at the top level when logic would dictate that they can't. I don't like the way they played this year, but I can't tell you how many times over the past three decades that I've wished Dublin possesed the same cold-eyed rationality and ability to make the most of what they have. The cycnicism displayed by them this year doesn't tarnish Harte's legacy as far as I'm concerned and it has been more than matched by other teams (O'Shea looked a right eejit today but he's not the first and won't be the last).

Not angels, certainly not devils, but at times capable of reaching heights others could only dream of. I'd take that as a legacy any day of the week.

[BennyHarp]

Speaking as a Dub, with no particular skin in the fight, everyone forgets the first half performance against Kerry in 2003, when they completely blew them out of the water football wise for the first 25 minutes - the pity was they didn't keep their foot on the pedal for the rest of the game. The 2005 quarter final games against us were pure class, and mostly pure football, while the 2005 final was perhaps the best All Ireland final of the last 10 years (I'd even go 15 maybe - it was a proper heavyweight bout).

And as for their performance against us in 2008 in the rain, it was like being dissected by a bunch of players who weren't only on a different level, but were playing a different game. Perhaps the biggest step in Dublin's current evolution/ revolution came with beating Tyrone in 2010, and then following that up with the more comprehensive performance in 2011. Along with Kerry they were the benchmark - and look at the players they produced - Canavan, McGuigan, O'Neill, Dooher, Cavanagh, Gormley, McMenamin (teeth gritting!), Mulligan, McAnallen - any team would have killed to have winners like them.

The present team is not near that standard, and the fact they got that far on limited resources is a tribute to Harte, in his talent for making players believe they can compete at the top level when logic would dictate that they can't. I don't like the way they played this year, but I can't tell you how many times over the past three decades that I've wished Dublin possesed the same cold-eyed rationality and ability to make the most of what they have. The cycnicism displayed by them this year doesn't tarnish Harte's legacy as far as I'm concerned and it has been more than matched by other teams (O'Shea looked a right eejit today but he's not the first and won't be the last).

Not angels, certainly not devils, but at times capable of reaching heights others could only dream of. I'd take that as a legacy any day of the week.

An excellent post.

[under the bar]

BennyCake in bitter anti-Tyrone rant shocker!   

[Captain Obvious]

10 years ago in the All Ireland series Tyrone conceded 0-5 v Fermanagh,0-6 v Kerry, 0-9 v Armagh total of 0-20. Today Tyrone conceded  1-16 what happened no longer playing puke football or the defenders aren't as good as they use to be?

[BennyCake]

BennyCake in bitter anti-Tyrone rant shocker!   

Larryin89 was right.

[under the bar]

Is BennyCake and Larryin89 one an the same?? 

[BennyCake]

Is BennyCake and Larryin89 one an the same?? 

Aye, that must be it