Tyrone County Football and Hurling

[Fuzzman]

It's one thing turning a blind eye to maybe one or two players who yap to the man their marking but it's different when you get half your team shouting in people's faces, trying to get them sent off and this general win at ALL COSTS attitude.
I think we've seen it quite a bit in games between Donegal, ourselves and Monaghan where there is a nastiness running through the whole game and it makes for a horrible spectacle. In fairness I thought we cut out a lot of that nonsense last year, even in the tense Ulster final there didn't seem to be as much sledging but I thought we did bring it back into our game v Mayo.

[Il Bomber Destro]

It's one thing turning a blind eye to maybe one or two players who yap to the man their marking but it's different when you get half your team shouting in people's faces, trying to get them sent off and this general win at ALL COSTS attitude.
I think we've seen it quite a bit in games between Donegal, ourselves and Monaghan where there is a nastiness running through the whole game and it makes for a horrible spectacle. In fairness I thought we cut out a lot of that nonsense last year, even in the tense Ulster final there didn't seem to be as much sledging but I thought we did bring it back into our game v Mayo.

Sledging is a bit harmless in all reality unless it spills over into some very personal matters.

Personally I'd prefer our lads mouthing off at the opposition heads than constantly cribbing to the referee and putting undue pressure on him like the likes of Cillian O'Connor, Colm Boyle, Gooch, Donaghy do on a regular basis.

It's only a big deal because it's Tyrone though. We shouldn't have to operate ourselves under different standards than the rest, we've been unfairly given this image of dirty, underhand, cheating scum by large sections of the Southern media over the last 10 years. We constantly have our incidents magnified and recorded when they happen yet when other sides are involved in similar incidents they are brushed under the rug.

I get quite annoyed when I see certain people, particularly inside the county, always looking for us to behave to a standard no other county has to because we're a successful side from the north. Why should we have to play with our hands tied behind our backs while the rest don't? We'll do what we've always done and push the line to the same limit the other teams do, if the media want to spin that to our image, let them, the best way we can stuff it to them is going out and winning games.

[Fuzzman]

How do you think we'll fare in Div 1 this year lads?
Having won Ulster this year I think it would benefit this young team if they really went all out to win a league title. 2003 was our last one which is surprising as Mickey says he wants to win all competitions.
Can you imagine if we beat the Dubs in the league final how that would set the mood for the championship season ahead?

Looking back at 2015 when we were last in Div 1 we lost badly to Monaghan, beat Mayo away, drew with Dublin, lost to Cork and Donegal and drew with Kerry in Omagh. McCurry, Sean and McAliskey were our top scorers that year. McCurry seems to have fallen back behind some of the upcoming U21s from that year and hopefully we'll see Mickey play Lee Brennan a bit more this year.

We would hope to get off to a good start with a home game to Roscommon in our first match although they started last year very well.

[Il Bomber Destro]

How do you think we'll fare in Div 1 this year lads?
Having won Ulster this year I think it would benefit this young team if they really went all out to win a league title. 2003 was our last one which is surprising as Mickey says he wants to win all competitions.
Can you imagine if we beat the Dubs in the league final how that would set the mood for the championship season ahead?

Looking back at 2015 when we were last in Div 1 we lost badly to Monaghan, beat Mayo away, drew with Dublin, lost to Cork and Donegal and drew with Kerry in Omagh. McCurry, Sean and McAliskey were our top scorers that year. McCurry seems to have fallen back behind some of the upcoming U21s from that year and hopefully we'll see Mickey play Lee Brennan a bit more this year.

We would hope to get off to a good start with a home game to Roscommon in our first match although they started last year very well.

No semi-finals this year so it's top two who face off for the league.

I'd be expecting a strong showing, I'd say out of the big 4/5 sides we will be the ones who want it the most, it will be good test for some of the more experienced players who broke into the squad in the last 2 years.

Hopefully the new recruits get a chance to shine tomorrow, think we have 7 of the established players involved with Ulster this weekend so should be a good chance for the others.

[omagh_gael]

Tyrone best Louth 2-19 to 14 points today.  Meet Armagh next week.

[longballin]

What really is the point of the O'Fiaich Cup? Is the GAA afraid county football afraid will be out of the limelight for a few weeks?

[square_ball]

I don't think it's organised by the GAA per se more of an invitational tournament hosted by Cross. Much in the same vein as pitch openings, charity matches etc etc. I wouldn't get too worked up about glorified friendly matches really.

[StGallsGAA]

Obviously the ban on December football has gone?  Didn't see Amy official announcement tho?

[bigpackiechestout]

Anyone up at the game today to see how any of the new lads got on? The Dazzler seemed to do most of the scoring,  still think he's probably our best/ most proven forward when on form. Interesting that Ronan O'Neill was captain although I suppose there wasn't too many experienced alternatives. Also seen Lee Brennan just got one point from play which should be a bit of a reality check for anyone who thinks he's going to immediately cure all of Tyrone's problems at just 19 years of age

[Il Bomber Destro]

Anyone up at the game today to see how any of the new lads got on? The Dazzler seemed to do most of the scoring,  still think he's probably our best/ most proven forward when on form. Interesting that Ronan O'Neill was captain although I suppose there wasn't too many experienced alternatives. Also seen Lee Brennan just got one point from play which should be a bit of a reality check for anyone who thinks he's going to immediately cure all of Tyrone's problems at just 19 years of age

Two points for Brennan but I agree with what you're saying, he needs to be treated with care and too much shouldn't be expected to soon.

Going by the line up I thought a few of the positional choices strange.

Clarke at wing back
McKenna at centre back
Cassidy at corner back
K McGeary at wing forward

Now possibly they didn't play there in those positions but I would have Cassidy and McKenna further up the field, Clarke in a more central role and McGeary at wing back.

Is Loughran injured, he was the only one of the new faces who didn't get a run out today?

[In hiding]

Anyone up at the game today to see how any of the new lads got on? The Dazzler seemed to do most of the scoring,  still think he's probably our best/ most proven forward when on form. Interesting that Ronan O'Neill was captain although I suppose there wasn't too many experienced alternatives. Also seen Lee Brennan just got one point from play which should be a bit of a reality check for anyone who thinks he's going to immediately cure all of Tyrone's problems at just 19 years of age

Two points for Brennan but I agree with what you're saying, he needs to be treated with care and too much shouldn't be expected to soon.

Going by the line up I thought a few of the positional choices strange.

Clarke at wing back
McKenna at centre back
Cassidy at corner back
K McGeary at wing forward

Now possibly they didn't play there in those positions but I would have Cassidy and McKenna further up the field, Clarke in a more central role and McGeary at wing back.

Is Loughran injured, he was the only one of the new faces who didn't get a run out today?

And you're the man who keeps telling us that mickey knows best !

[BennyHarp]

Anyone up at the game today to see how any of the new lads got on? The Dazzler seemed to do most of the scoring,  still think he's probably our best/ most proven forward when on form. Interesting that Ronan O'Neill was captain although I suppose there wasn't too many experienced alternatives. Also seen Lee Brennan just got one point from play which should be a bit of a reality check for anyone who thinks he's going to immediately cure all of Tyrone's problems at just 19 years of age

Two points for Brennan but I agree with what you're saying, he needs to be treated with care and too much shouldn't be expected to soon.

Going by the line up I thought a few of the positional choices strange.

Clarke at wing back
McKenna at centre back
Cassidy at corner back
K McGeary at wing forward

Now possibly they didn't play there in those positions but I would have Cassidy and McKenna further up the field, Clarke in a more central role and McGeary at wing back.

Is Loughran injured, he was the only one of the new faces who didn't get a run out today?

And you're the man who keeps telling us that mickey knows best !

Yes, why isn't Mickey playing his full strength team? This isn't the competition to be experimenting with players and positions. 🙄

[Dire Ear]

Any reports , scorers ?  apart from McCurry 1-9 I think

[Fuzzman]

Was any of ye at it? How did McShane play at MF or did he not line out there? Did we play our usual 14 men behind the ball or was it a bit more direct?

From the Irish News.

HOLDERS Tyrone set up an intriguing O Fiaich Cup final showdown with rivals Armagh after they had far too much firepower for Louth at St Oliver Plunkett Park yesterday.

Darren McCurry led the way for an experimental Red Hand outfit, bagging 1-9 as they won this repeat of last year's O Fiaich Cup final, with Ronan O'Neill grabbing the second of their two majors after the break.

Without a number of regulars, Mickey Harte handed debuts to Ruairi Mullan, Michael Cassidy, Declan McClure and Cahir McCullagh, and also welcomed back long-term injury absentees Conor Clarke and Niall McKenna.

The Tyrone boss will have been encouraged by the performances of Jonathan Munroe at wing-back, while Conor Meyler – back in county colours after a hamstring injury curtailed his Championship summer – and Cathal McShane showed plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

Clarke showed he still has plenty of offer when he burst forward to launch an attack that ended with O'Neill splitting the posts to put the Red Hands 0-3 to 0-1 ahead, with McCurry unerring in front of the posts as Tyrone moved into a four point lead just after the quarter hour mark.

But Louth's direct approach was paying dividends on occasion and, inspired by the free-taking of Jim McEnaney, Colin Kelly's men got back to within two points 26 minutes in, Padraig Rath – a black card replacement for James Stewart – also catching the eye.

Scores from McShane and Lee Brennan sent Tyrone in at the break 0-10 to 0-6 ahead, and O'Neill's 41st minute goal – fisted to the net after a high ball bounced invitingly – gave the Ulster men a cushion early in the second half.

Louth continued to battle, with Paraic Smyth's 55-metre effort the best of the day, but when McCurry rifled home Tyrone's second major five minutes from time it ensured Mickey Harte's side could now look forward to a pre-Christmas meeting with their old rivals this Sunday

MATCH STATS
Tyrone: M O'Neill; R Mullan, HP McGeary, M Cassidy; C Clarke, N McKenna, J Munroe (0-1); D McClure, C McShane (0-3); C Meyler, R O'Neill (1-2, 0-1 free), K McGeary; D McCurry (1-9, 0-6 frees), C McCullagh (0-1), L Brennan (0-2). Subs: R McHugh (0-1) for K McGeary (h-t), F Burns for McCullagh (64)
Louth: N Gallagher; A Williams, J Bingham, K Carr; D Maguire, J Stewart, L Dullaghan; A McDonnell (0-1), C Martin (0-1); C McKeever, P Smyth (0-1), C Brannigan (0-1); G McSorley, J McEnaney (0-3, frees), T Durnin. Subs: P Rath (0-1) for Stewart (16), D Byrne (0-2) for Durnin (h-t), R Holcroft (0-4, 0-3 frees) for McEnaney (h-t), D Marks for Dullaghan (50), T McKenna for Martin (56), D Finn for Carr (62). Black card: J Stewart replaced by P Rath (16)
Ref: P Hughes (Armagh)

[mick999]

Teamtalk interview with Mickey :

http://teamtalkmag.com/2016/12/video-mickey-harte-ofiaich-cup-v-louth/