An Lú vs Tír Eoghain 19/07/2008

[Tyrone Dreamer]

Exactly TD, and that game will have done them nothing but the power of good. Looks like we've been lucky with injuries, of lack thereof.

Always the optomists are you two lads  ! 

Something you'll never be accused off! Seriously, what do you expect from a player who has been out injured for 4 months and has only a week or 2 training behind him in his first game back? Reports suggest Brain McGuigan had a good game yesterday, would love to see him playing well against Louth.

I just think I'm more of a realist - there's nothing wrong with dreaming but how do expect Mulligan to start IC football in 12 days time if he struggled during a club game ?

Brian played very well yesterday and would love to see him return to the form of old.

As I said above I dont expect Mulligan to fit for 70 minutes next week. My point was that it wasnt realistic to expect him to play well in his 1st game back for Cookstown.

[loughshore lad]

Am a bit curious as to how Tommy is not automatically featuring on proposed Tyrone teams for this game.  Over the league he was easily as good as any of the other forwards and was very good when introduced against Down in Newry. For me he would be an automatic starter.

Brian was very good against Aghayarn especially considering it was his first game since sustaining a rib injury against Down in Omagh, hopefully it will put a bit of a spring back in his step again.

[take_yer_points]

If we had a fully fit squad what team would anyone pick? Id go with the following:
McConnell
McGee
Joe McMahon
PJ Quinn
Ricey
Gormley
Jordan
Justy McMahon
McGinley
Dooher/Mellon/Tommy McGuigan/Mulgrew (based on form)
Brian McGuigan
Sean Cavanagh
Penrose
Colm Cavanagh
Mugsy (doubt he'll be fit to play 70 minutes)

Why do you think McGee will get a start? I agree with you and think he should start but I also think he should've started a game this year already - is there something Harte doesn't like about him? I know he had the shoulder trouble last year but that's all cleared up by now I think.

I'd also have Sean at midfield - considering the amount of options you list at half forward I'd prefer to give one of them a go and have Cavanagh winning ball in midfield. Apart from that I think you're spot on - do we have a left footed free kicker there though? (do we even have a right footed one who's a cert to start?)

[orangeman]

Can we now say that going into the game against Louth that everybody is fully fit and available for selection or are we going to have to endure another round of injury scares It's ironic that last day out, Brian Mc Guigan didn't play because he was genuinely injured but the rest who were supposed to be inured DID in fact play - Justin, Colm, Dan Gordon etc etc

[Tyrone Dreamer]

If we had a fully fit squad what team would anyone pick? Id go with the following:
McConnell
McGee
Joe McMahon
PJ Quinn
Ricey
Gormley
Jordan
Justy McMahon
McGinley
Dooher/Mellon/Tommy McGuigan/Mulgrew (based on form)
Brian McGuigan
Sean Cavanagh
Penrose
Colm Cavanagh
Mugsy (doubt he'll be fit to play 70 minutes)

Why do you think McGee will get a start? I agree with you and think he should start but I also think he should've started a game this year already - is there something Harte doesn't like about him? I know he had the shoulder trouble last year but that's all cleared up by now I think.

I'd also have Sean at midfield - considering the amount of options you list at half forward I'd prefer to give one of them a go and have Cavanagh winning ball in midfield. Apart from that I think you're spot on - do we have a left footed free kicker there though? (do we even have a right footed one who's a cert to start?)

Enda and Sean could easily switch positions. Thought McGinley has been having his best year in a long time for Tyrone in midfield so would be reluctant to move him and Cavanagh did well v Monaghan at half forward last year. To be honest I havent always been McGee's biggest fan mainly because he can sometimes be easily caught when over committing for the ball but I do think he is probably a better option than Ricey in the full back line on current form. Ricey still has lot to offer though and could drive the team forward from half back were imo Harte has been poor apart from 1 league game this year.

If Tommy McGuigan kept up his form from the last game then he'd be a cert to start but he hasnt always been consistent. How'd he play for Ardboe on Sunday? If Mugsy is out and Id guess he is Tommy may be the best option for the free's.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

He's been our best defender of the decade but if Harte is going to drop any of the established players Gormley might be the one who should go based on current form. For whatever reason he has been very poor all season and if it wasnt for the fact that everyone knows how good he is it would have happended earlier. Harte has kept trying Peter Donnelly and it has failed but personally I think his best chance would be centre half back but at this stage could be to late trying it. Justy McMahon was man of the match for Omagh there on Friday night so maybe he's the best alternative. I'd say though there is little chance of Gormley being dropped and if we're going to do anything we need him playing well so lets hope he can start playing like himself soon.

[tyssam5]

If we had a fully fit squad what team would anyone pick? Id go with the following:
McConnell
McGee
Joe McMahon
PJ Quinn
Ricey
Gormley
Jordan
Justy McMahon
McGinley
Dooher/Mellon/Tommy McGuigan/Mulgrew (based on form)
Brian McGuigan
Sean Cavanagh
Penrose
Colm Cavanagh
Mugsy (doubt he'll be fit to play 70 minutes)

Why do you think McGee will get a start? I agree with you and think he should start but I also think he should've started a game this year already - is there something Harte doesn't like about him? I know he had the shoulder trouble last year but that's all cleared up by now I think.

I'd also have Sean at midfield - considering the amount of options you list at half forward I'd prefer to give one of them a go and have Cavanagh winning ball in midfield. Apart from that I think you're spot on - do we have a left footed free kicker there though? (do we even have a right footed one who's a cert to start?)

Enda and Sean could easily switch positions. Thought McGinley has been having his best year in a long time for Tyrone in midfield so would be reluctant to move him and Cavanagh did well v Monaghan at half forward last year. To be honest I havent always been McGee's biggest fan mainly because he can sometimes be easily caught when over committing for the ball but I do think he is probably a better option than Ricey in the full back line on current form. Ricey still has lot to offer though and could drive the team forward from half back were imo Harte has been poor apart from 1 league game this year.

If Tommy McGuigan kept up his form from the last game then he'd be a cert to start but he hasnt always been consistent. How'd he play for Ardboe on Sunday? If Mugsy is out and Id guess he is Tommy may be the best option for the free's.

I would definitely think there could be a case made for playing Ricey in the HB line, but playing McGee instead of him? I don't think so, that kind of replacement would be an argument for keeping Ricey in the FB line!

[take_yer_points]

Who would you play instead of McGee then if Ricey were to play in the HB line? I think when Tyrone play with 2 attacking players in corner back (Ricey and McCaul both like to get forward for example) they often leave themselves very open at the back. I'd prefer to have someone like McGee who'll only be interested in man marking his man and won't venture too far forward. That way we'll always have plenty of cover back in the FB line. Maybe there's someone better than McGee to do that though.

[tyrone86]

Enda and Sean could easily switch positions. Thought McGinley has been having his best year in a long time for Tyrone in midfield so would be reluctant to move him and Cavanagh did well v Monaghan at half forward last year. To be honest I havent always been McGee's biggest fan mainly because he can sometimes be easily caught when over committing for the ball but I do think he is probably a better option than Ricey in the full back line on current form. Ricey still has lot to offer though and could drive the team forward from half back were imo Harte has been poor apart from 1 league game this year.

If Tommy McGuigan kept up his form from the last game then he'd be a cert to start but he hasnt always been consistent. How'd he play for Ardboe on Sunday? If Mugsy is out and Id guess he is Tommy may be the best option for the free's.

I would definitely think there could be a case made for playing Ricey in the HB line, but playing McGee instead of him? I don't think so, that kind of replacement would be an argument for keeping Ricey in the FB line!

Judging on Friday night past, Ricey's selection certainly wouldn't be on current form - he was given more than his fill of it from 2 county Under 21s. As for McGee, I don't think he ever did much wrong after Paddy Bradley cleaned him in Clones in 2003 and yet there's still this hostility towards him in some circles since. As for the forward line, it's difficult to predict how any of the 6 will play on any given Sunday. Through the league and against Down, the consistency of any of our forwards hasn't inspired confidence, and this continual chopping and changing would put doubts in anyones head - not least the players.

[Wee Roddy]

So people in Tyrone are now calling for Conor Gormley to be dropped and Peter Donnelly put in at centre half back!! Good christ people, wake up and smell what is actually happening.
A few points that need to be made
1. Gormley is sick to the teeth of being sent after who ever is causing the most bother bacause of inadequate performances from others (granted he has not been doing as good a job in recent games)
2. He firmly believes, and so do I, that if he had off being kept at centre half back last year against Meath, they would have won as he was moping up a lot of ball before being switched to Mark Stephen Brae.
3. Davy Hartes lack of defensive qualities is annoying the rest of the Tyrone defenders and everyone is afraid to say anything as the only person Mickey listens to is Dooher.
4. How would any defender be able to have any understanding of what is going on in his defensive line up if no one ever knows who is going to be employed in it?

These are some of the obvious things. Many more faults do exist at the minute.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

So people in Tyrone are now calling for Conor Gormley to be dropped and Peter Donnelly put in at centre half back!! Good christ people, wake up and smell what is actually happening.
A few points that need to be made
1. Gormley is sick to the teeth of being sent after who ever is causing the most bother bacause of inadequate performances from others (granted he has not been doing as good a job in recent games)
2. He firmly believes, and so do I, that if he had off being kept at centre half back last year against Meath, they would have won as he was moping up a lot of ball before being switched to Mark Stephen Brae.
3. Davy Hartes lack of defensive qualities is annoying the rest of the Tyrone defenders and everyone is afraid to say anything as the only person Mickey listens to is Dooher.
4. How would any defender be able to have any understanding of what is going on in his defensive line up if no one ever knows who is going to be employed in it?

These are some of the obvious things. Many more faults do exist at the minute.

As I said in my post Conor Gormley is the best defender Tyrone have had this decade. However for whatever reason he has been very poor this season. I was simply pointing out that this is the one position that Donnelly has never been tried at and in my opinion the one that would suit him best. I would still doubt very much that he is good enough to play there at county level and certainly if Conor Gormley was playing anywhere near his potential Donnelly wouldnt be in the same class but the problem is Gormley hasnt been playing. If you read what I wrote Justy McMahon was actually my alternative. However, for the sake of Tyrone its essential that we get Gormley back on form and Id agree centre half back is his position. Although even there he hasnt been anywhere near his usual self.

I wouldnt agree with your point about the Meath match last year. Bray and the rest of the full forward line were cleaning Tyrone out and it was only when Gormley went back that we got it sorted out. We lost the Meath game last year due to missed chances up front in the second half imo.

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Id rather have an unfit out of form Conor Gormley at CHB than anybody else on the panel! Lets get this in perspective anyway, didnt he play most of the first Down match with a foot injury and he was messed about position wise for the replay. I wouldnt have any doubts about his form. Man is a class act, any question of dropping him is madness.

Would agree with orangeman about Tommy McGuigan. Tyrone's best forward this year and if fit he has to start. Also mystified about why people are suggesting Joe for FB when Justy has been doing pretty well there, certainly better IMO than anybody else we've tried there in the last 2 years.

If fit here's my team for Louth;

1.McConnell
2.McMenamin
3.Justy McMahon
4.McCaul
5.Carlin
6.Gormley
7.Jordan
8.McGinley
9.S.Cavanagh
10.Dooher
11.B.McGuigan
12.T.McGuigan
13.Penrose
14.McCullagh
15.Mulligan

That leaves Joe McMahon, Mulgrew, C.Cavanagh, Melon, D.Harte, McGhee, Quinn etc as very strong backup players to come in. A strong looking team IMO.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

I wouldnt agree with your point about the Meath match last year. Bray and the rest of the full forward line were cleaning Tyrone out and it was only when Gormley went back that we got it sorted out. We lost the Meath game last year due to missed chances up front in the second half imo.

Agreed, but for Gormley completely shutting Bray out in the second half, we would have conceded a good few more, and would not have had made the chances at the other end to squander.

If fit here's my team for Louth;

1.McConnell
2.McMenamin
3.Justy McMahon
4.McCaul
5.Carlin
6.Gormley
7.Jordan
8.McGinley
9.S.Cavanagh
10.Dooher
11.B.McGuigan
12.T.McGuigan
13.Penrose
14.McCullagh
15.Mulligan

That leaves Joe McMahon, Mulgrew, C.Cavanagh, Melon, D.Harte, McGhee, Quinn etc as very strong backup players to come in. A strong looking team IMO.

Not a whole lot wrong with that, though Mc Gee might be better in the corner, depends on whom Louth have in at top of the right.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

Id rather have an unfit out of form Conor Gormley at CHB than anybody else on the panel! Lets get this in perspective anyway, didnt he play most of the first Down match with a foot injury and he was messed about position wise for the replay. I wouldnt have any doubts about his form. Man is a class act, any question of dropping him is madness.

Would agree with orangeman about Tommy McGuigan. Tyrone's best forward this year and if fit he has to start. Also mystified about why people are suggesting Joe for FB when Justy has been doing pretty well there, certainly better IMO than anybody else we've tried there in the last 2 years.

If fit here's my team for Louth;

1.McConnell
2.McMenamin
3.Justy McMahon
4.McCaul
5.Carlin
6.Gormley
7.Jordan
8.McGinley
9.S.Cavanagh
10.Dooher
11.B.McGuigan
12.T.McGuigan
13.Penrose
14.McCullagh
15.Mulligan

That leaves Joe McMahon, Mulgrew, C.Cavanagh, Melon, D.Harte, McGhee, Quinn etc as very strong backup players to come in. A strong looking team IMO.

To be honest if I was picking the team Gormley would be one of the first on the teamsheet, he is a class act. I am a bit worried about his form this season and that includes the league not just the Down game. For some reason he hasnt looked right and Tyrone need that to change very soon. The reason I would consider taking Justy out of full back is because I think he could potentially go a long way to solving our problems around midfield. Joe does not look to have the same energy as Justy to play at midfield but did a very job at full back in the latter part of 05. My big worry with your team would be the full forward line. Playing McCullagh at full forward would mean the quality of ball going in would have to be very high and the chances of winning 50 50 balls kicked in long would be slim.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

I'd be happy enough to see Penrose and Mc Cullagh start there, though it could mean deep forages for the ball, but with a view to bringing on Colm Cavanagh sharpish if things weren't working out.