Tír Eoghain vs Áth Cliath '08

[ONeill]

Starting from the back - McMenamin, Harte, Jordan, McGinley, Mellon, Dooher, McGuigan x 2, McCullagh, Cavanagh and Penrose have all scored in turn this year in the championship. I may have missed one or two out. Throw in Mulligan and it's not beyonds the realm of possibility that if on-form we can rack up a decent tally.

As for winning/breaking even at midfield - have you not been watching Tyrone for this last 5 years?

Tyrone are in a win-win situation. All pundits will tip Dublin, the bookies will make them hot favourites, the Dubs themselves will expect to beat a side that are not of 03-05 vintage. Mickey is being lauded as a miracle worker getting them this far. Tyrone can go out, relax and express themselves. The Dubs have the weight of 13 years of failure and collapse on their backs. Tyrone still mightn't have enough in the tank to see the Dubs off, but we'll give it a mighty good shot.

[orangeman]

Any prices for this match yet - Dublin 1-3 Tyrone 3-1

[ziggysego]

Yesterday I was thinking this was the worst possible draw for Tyrone. I'm now thinking it's the best. No-one's giving Tyrone a chance, everyone's hyping Dublin. Tyrone are slowly, but surely getting the wheels back on the old team bus and I'm feeling some of the Tyrone of old will come back for this game.

Tyrone by 4 points (including a famous Mulligan goal)

[tyrone86]

The Dubs are hot favourites with the bookies - 4/9 with Ladbrokes and 8/15 with Paddy Power - with Tyrone 9/4 and 15/8 I don't think Tyrone have been such large underdogs since the 2000 game with Armagh.

There ya go OM

[Bensars]

4-9 dublin     9-4 Tyrone. on Betfair

Same as a few others. Tyrone have nothing to lose and against an undoubted good side but as O neill has said a side with a soft underbelly that annually seem to implode. Dublin can waltz through leinster with all the panache you like but in the heat of the knock out stages they have been found wanting. Another factor is the line. Pillars decision making is slow to say the least, if this is anyway a tight game im hopeful that Tyrone can come out on top

[orangeman]

God it's class the way a couple of wins can really boost morale amongst players and posters on this site in particular ! 

A copule of weeks ago it was over - end of the road - now we've a chance against Dublin ! 


If Mickey Harte pulls this one off, it will surely be his biggest ever achievement ( the winnig AI finals excpeted of course )  - he'll go down as the best manager in history. Can he do it ? 

[Tyrone Dreamer]

After Saturday its hard to know what our strongest team is. Gourley done himself no harm and Joe McMahon did reasonably well. Penrose made a decent impact but I still believe we cant start both him and McCullagh. Mugsy will have had a months training behind him ahead of the next game and must be ready to play for longer than off late. Mellon after 2 goods games struggled on Saturday and might find it difficult in the air v Whelan. Maybe the big game would bring the best out of him like the 05 final. Joe McMahon did well against the Dubs in 05 in midfield and could be the option Harte chooses. Brian McGuigan didnt look on Saturday like he'd have the legs for 70 minutes of high pace football but I hope Im wrong on that one. If I was picking the team now it would be:
Devine
PJ
Justy
Ricey
Gourley
Gormley
Jordan
Joe McMahon
McGinley
Dooher
Mulgrew (if fit enough)
Cavanagh
McCullagh
Tommy
Mugsy
That would leave the likes of Penrose,Mellon and McGuigan to come on and make an impact in the 2nd half.

[ziggysego]

If Mickey Harte pulls this one off, it will surely be his biggest ever achievement ( the winnig AI finals excpeted of course )  - he'll go down as the best manager in history. Can he do it ? 

Well I'm Mickey's biggest fan. Even in recent months when people have been calling for him to go. If anyone can, Mickey can.

However.... yet again, I'm busy that weekend. What is it with me and the Tyrone fixtures this year? Only games I got to where the two Down games.

[Tyrones own]

Colm McCullagh was everywhere on saturday - I think he played the link role very well, and was available for the left footed freetaking - which I think will be important against the dubs, especially if the game gets dragged down.

I'd agree with that, he's a much better option for CF than B McGuigan at this point
No need for the two of them in there, at least McCullagh will chip in with 2 or 3 points
not to mention the left footed frees.
t'would leave a vacant spot for maybe Joe in the HF line to act as a 3rd midfielder, Penrose
follaging along with Dooher then McCullagh threading needles to Sean and Tommy.

[Gaaman]

I am really struggling to see why so many people have dublin hot favourites for this match. What have they done this past year to make them hot favourites against Tyrone?  They beat average teams on the way here.  Tyrones defence will be seriously tight for this match. Cavanagh (3 this all star) and McGinley will work and work in midfield.  Dublins midfield will struggle in the last 20 minutes with the pace of the game.  Tyrones forwards have played in patches.  There has been some great play.  Like the 6 points on the trot against Mayo.  This is the game Tyrone have been looking for to inject some passion and pride.  Seriously can't wait for this match. 

Dublin fans have to realise they will be facing a team full of all ireland winners that will be full of fire.  Another thing about the 2005 matches. Tyrone were very average up to the quarters....the drawn game was a great close game.  But Dublin took a serious hammering in the replay... Should be a close match but i reckon Tyrone will shade it

[Puckoon]

Could you really think about leaving out McGuigan? He will at least tie up one of their best defenders.

[bennydorano]

Some good pionts there from O'Neill's post.  The Dubs in recent years have had a soft underbelly, if they win this years AI they could go on and win a few, but if they are beaten there's no way back.  I think they know that themselves and that's serious pressure to operate under.  

Tyrone will get under their skin, Dublin's MF is not as good as they'd like to think and Tyrone will probably break even - Whelan may well take a few out of the clouds spectacularly, but Tyrone will win  a far bigger percentage of breaking ball.  I think this is the day for Cavanagh to make hay at FF, McConnell isn't up to a top quality FF(although I'm not sure if Cavanagh is tbh).  

Tyrone's defence is their weak link IMO, far too many tyronies still think McMenamin is a top man marker, but he's not, he's regularly taken by top forwards and i would assume he'll try and mark Alan Brogan. I reckon Phily Jordan looks a shadow of his former self too.  No doubt the firefighting will all be left to Gormley (one of the best defenders of the modern era IMO).  Their forward line obviously isn't as strong as previous years but if things go well elsewhere I think they can do it.

Had a duke at Resevoir Dubs there, not too many expecting a defeat!!

[Puckoon]

What about Pascal McConnell top of the left?

[ONeill]

Starting Penrose and McCullagh together could still work though it leaves little in the way of pace in terms of an impact sub. Penrose's cameo on Saturday changed the nature of the game, coupled with Sean's three-quarter role. Penrose seems to play well in the opening quarter of a game, or as soon as he comes on - he tends to wane as the game progresses. McCullagh's a good forward - nothing more or nothing less. He'll not have a spectacular game but has been steady all year. I remember Mellon started well against the Dubs in '05 and could have a roving corner forward/wing berth if his confidence has been knocked.

I'd have

Ricey - McMahon - Quinn
Harte - Gormley - Jordan
Joe - Enda
Dooher - Brian - Mellon
McCullagh - Sean - Tommy

[Tyrones own]

Could you really think about leaving out McGuigan? He will at least tie up one of their best defenders.

Honestly Yes, obviously no fault of his own but he's only a shadow of his former self and
if he's not at his best (like the rest of them) then someone else should be in there.
We'll need to be at full tilt Puck and I don't think Brian's quite there yet.. IMO


         Devine

  Ricey- Justin- PJ

McCaul- Block- Jordan

  Mellon    McGinley

Dooher   McCullagh   Joe

Penrose   Sean   Tommy

Joe to act as a 3rd midfielder, penrose follaging with Dooher,
McCullagh feeding Sean and Tommy