AISF Aug 23rd Tyrone v Cork

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Irish News article:

Red Hand stars will all be back next year says Joe

By Francis Mooney

Joe McMahon is certain there will be no talk of retirements within the Tyrone squad in the wake of Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final defeat to Cork.

The nucleus of the team will be aged around 30 when the 2010 Championship comes around, but the Omagh man feels the more experienced players still have plenty to offer. The likes of Philip Jordan, Enda McGinley, Kevin Hughes, Pascal McConnell, Owen Mulligan, Brian McGuigan and Stephen O'Neill, who were all members of the 1998 All-Ireland-winning minor side, have clocked up high mileage, while skipper Brian Dooher will be 35 next year.

However, McMahon is confident they will still be around, along with manager Mickey Harte, who has confirmed he will be back for an eighth season in charge. "I don't think things are finished with this Tyrone team just yet," said McMahon. "I don't think the boys will be happy with losing a semi-final, and they'll be back again next year. We'll go and reflect now and look towards next year in due time," he said.

Talk of a second successive All-Ireland title may have increased the pressure on the reigning champions ahead of last Sunday's game, according to McMahon, who feels it certainly lessened expectation in the Cork camp.

"We were seen as the favourites, and Cork the underdogs. And they played that way, with no real pressure on themselves, and they probably looked the hungrier in patches of the game," he said. "We wanted to get the back-to-back, and to fall at the semi-final stage is very disappointing. But things didn't happen for us and we're disappointed in that sense."

The convincing manner of Cork's five-point win eased the pain for McMahon, who admitted it was less difficult to accept defeat at the hands of a superior side than to lose out narrowly in an evenly-poised game. "They were the better team, and in that sense, the defeat is easier to accept," admitted McMahon.

"If we had been beaten by a point or so, it would have been more difficult to take. We were very disappointed with our performance. We didn't really get going. Fair play to Cork, they played all the football. They were fast-moving, and I think we were too static. They were moving the ball forward, attacking us high up the field with great intensity. They're a very fit team, strong in the tackle."

And McMahon also felt the pre-match loss of Sean Cavanagh was a huge blow, which perhaps affected the performances of other members of the team.

"To lose a player like Sean is a massive blow. He's a great player," he said. "But again, Tommy (McGuigan) came in and did a good job, and likewise Brian (McGuigan), but on the day everybody is disappointed with their performance overall."

Nevertheless, the intensity that Cork brought to the contest, allied to the composure they displayed after being reduced to 14 men, impressed McMahon.

"When they had the man sent off, Tyrone were sort of fighting their way back into it. Maybe half-time didn't come at a great time for us, but it gave Cork a chance to regroup. They played superior with the 14 men, and I suppose we were maybe happy enough to sit back, while they were more intense in getting forward and supporting off the shoulder," he said.

And McMahon believes that the Rebels can go on and win a first All-Ireland title since 1990.

"They're a good team and they will be hard to stop, whether it be Meath or Kerry in the final," he said. "Cork have proved themselves, and having beaten Tyrone, they would be going in as favourites for the All-Ireland."

[Final Whistle]

We aint biting Fearon.

1=Lucky
2=Good
3(Beating Kerry on our way in all occasions)= Team of the decade!

[SidelineKick]

The fact that you're using Kerry as your benchmark indicates they are a superior team, also the fact that they have won 4 / FOUR / IV All Irelands probably settle it anyway.

[thebuzz]

We aint biting Fearon.

1=Lucky
2=Good
3(Beating Kerry on our way in all occasions)= Team of the decade!

This decade isn't over yet. I want Cork to win the All Ireland but if Kerry beat Meath and happen to beat Cork in the Final there'll be no disputing the Team Of The Decade then.

[INDIANA]

Dooher looks ill to me.  I cant see him giving another year, although his committment would say otherwise.

Ill?- body is just knackered thats all. Could maybe do impact sub for a couple of seasons

[Final Whistle]

probably settles it, until you take into account that head to head, championship action, the count is 3-0!!!

Quite conclusive when you consider that Kerry have failed to beat Tyrone.

The fact that you're using Kerry as your benchmark indicates they are a superior team, also the fact that they have won 4 / FOUR / IV All Irelands probably settle it anyway.

Saying that Kerry alongside Tyrone have a near monopoly on the all irelands won in the 00s they are the only comparison to realistically have. Unless that is you want to compare Tyrone's success to Derrys national league triumph?

[SidelineKick]

Derry have nothing to do with it, please stick to the point*.  Kerry have won more provincial titles and more AI's. They have appeared in more finals and did back to back AIs.  Because Tyrone beat them in head to heads is a non issue.  They were / are a great team, but why can you not accept that Kerry are a better team?  The evidence is there.

[Final Whistle]

Derry have nothing to do with it, please stick to the point*.  Kerry have won more provincial titles and more AI's. They have appeared in more finals and did back to back AIs.  Because Tyrone beat them in head to heads is a non issue.  They were / are a great team, but why can you not accept that Kerry are a better team?  The evidence is there.

Your argument is flawed. Because they won more provincials is neither here nor there! Munster compared to Ulster, even you should understand that. Just look at the Munster lack of competition.

2006 Path to Glory;

Kerry 0-16 v 0-08 Waterford
Kerry 0-17 v 1-05 Tipperary
Kerry 0-10 v 0-10 Cork
Cork 1-12 v 0-09 Kerry

Kerry 4-11 v 1-11 Longford
Armagh 1-13 v 3-15 Kerry
Kerry 0-16 v 0-10 Cork
Kerry 4-15 v 3-05 Mayo

2007 Path to Glory

Waterford  0-04 v 2-15 Kerry 
Kerry 1-15 v 1-13 Cork

Kerry 1-12 v 1-11 Monaghan
Kerry 1-15 v 0-16 Dublin
Kerry 3-13 v 1-09 Cork

I dont see Tyrone being beat by Kerry in either. This is not Kerry's problem, they can only beat whats in front of them. However, there will be a hoodoo hanging over this team, everyone in kerry knows as much and its that they did not get the better of Tyrone.

[BennyHarp]

When is the award for team of the decade given out? Is it part of the offical all stars awards - or is it all a load of b*llocks dreamt up by people who have little else to argue about! Who cares about team of the decade?  For this generation of players Tyrone played Kerry on an equal footing on three occassions when it really mattered and won all three quite convincingly - this is an undisputeable fact so how can anyone say that the kerry team is a better team??

[SidelineKick]

As I've said many times before, you find me a Kerry man with regret on his face should they win the AI this year.

News flash - the only people that care about Tyrone beating Kerry are Tyrone people.

Forget about provincials then, they still win 4-3, potentially 5-3!

Had Tyrone have won this year then they would have been ahead, due to head to heads.  Its a bit like goal difference, its only used when teams are level.  These teams arent level.

[SidelineKick]

When is the award for team of the decade given out? Is it part of the offical all stars awards - or is it all a load of b*llocks dreamt up by people who have little else to argue about! Who cares about team of the decade?  For this generation of players Tyrone played Kerry on an equal footing on three occassions when it really mattered and won all three quite convincingly - this is an undisputeable fact so how can anyone say that the kerry team is a better team??

Because a decade consists of 10 years, not the years from 2003 - 2008.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

News flash - the only people that care about Tyrone beating Kerry are Tyrone people.

Whatever else you might be saying SLK, that's bollix, and I know that for a fact.

[Final Whistle]

As I've said many times before, you find me a Kerry man with regret on his face should they win the AI this year.

News flash - the only people that care about Tyrone beating Kerry are Tyrone people.

Forget about provincials then, they still win 4-3, potentially 5-3!

Had Tyrone have won this year then they would have been ahead, due to head to heads.  Its a bit like goal difference, its only used when teams are level.  These teams arent level.

Jack O'Connor cares, he said so in his book. Paidi O'Se cares and says that most Kerry people care, it says so in his newspaper column. Spillane cares, anyone who seen his reaction on Sunday can tell he cares. Head to head, when the gold was on the line, when it really mattered, Tyrone outmuscled, outsmarted, outplayed, out foxed Kerry. However, this year, to Kerry's relief Tyrone are just plain out!

[SidelineKick]

Ok ok, you got me, I also overheard a group of Kerry folk saying they wouldnt even celebrate this year if they won the AI 

What was it I said, bad winners and even worse losers 

[BennyHarp]

When is the award for team of the decade given out? Is it part of the offical all stars awards - or is it all a load of b*llocks dreamt up by people who have little else to argue about! Who cares about team of the decade?  For this generation of players Tyrone played Kerry on an equal footing on three occassions when it really mattered and won all three quite convincingly - this is an undisputeable fact so how can anyone say that the kerry team is a better team??

Because a decade consists of 10 years, not the years from 2003 - 2008.

And your point is?

I'll ask the question again - when is this award presented? Or is it just something certain people from weaker counties like yerself like to mouth about to try and diminish the achievements of a great team! I couldnt care less if people like youreself and fearon sit at home grumbling to yoursellves about Tyrone - the bottom line is that we have won three all ireland in a short period of time - i enjoyed every single one and if tyrone never win another game it wont take away from the achievements of this generation of players!