Tír Eoghain vs Áth Cliath '08

[Uladh]

On an aside did anyone here that Mickey Harte has enlisted the help of the supremo of Ulsters latest all Ireland champions for to give inspirational team talks. 

Inspirational team talks and Jody do not go hand in hand...

[ONeill]

One more thing – slagging players good naturedly is one thing. But suggesting that a man like Shane Ryan, who has given and gives so much, is lacking something in brains, galls me as much as the lazy characterisation of certain ~Tyrone players as cheats must gall red handers on the boards. This has always been a place of certain standards – let's try and keep it clean.

Easytiger - wind the neck in. If I think Ryan is not an intelligent footballer, albeit a horse of a man with an improving engine, I'll call it as I see it. There are plenty of footballers who fall into that category or in every code. If you think a poster cannot state this then the world's couped. If that's the case ,we cannot comment on how good we think a corner back is, or a fielder of a ball.

[Puckoon]

I watched the first quarter final of 05 last night, and I'm getting more and more excited, for what should be a great game of football. Conal Keaney is a man that worries me from a Tyrone perspective - he has a great eye for the posts, although he isn't great when forced onto his weaker side. Who will Mickey send out to take him up? Gourley? Justy Mac? They will need to be on the ball early whomever it is. Enda McGinely and Shane Ryan should be a titanic battle, while the dubliners are touting the form of Ryan this year (justifiably) Enda has put in a couple of great performances in the middle recently - and we all know what he is capable of doing. He again was everywhere in that 05 quarterfinal playing as a third midfielder and on sunday against Mayo put in similar yards. I'd not bet my mortgage (if I had one) on either man decisively coming out on top. Big Joe McMahon played a large role in negating the free catching reign that Whelan was enjoying in the first half of that game when the switches were made at half time - he is another option. All in all I don't think Tyrone will be beaten out the gate. They have too much experience, too much guile and too much at stake.

[ONeill]

Funnily enough, Keaney is also someone who I'd be wary of. In the replay in '05 he almost single-handedly brought the Dubs from 8 down to just a goal in 7 minutes. The atmosphere at 1-11 to 0-11 was the most intimidating in a impressive way I've ever experienced in Croke Park. It made me wonder what the place would sound if the Jackeens won it. For that reason, I'd like to see them take it in the modern era.

Keaney saves his best for Tyrone.

[his holiness nb]

Keaney hasnt been great this year, quite sub par imo.

hopefully you are right and he is saving his best for Tyrone!

[20leg-end08]

In fairness to the Dub fans when we beat them in '05 I never heard one bad word about Tyrone on the way outta the stadium and about the streets. They were very gracious in defeat and wished us all the best. So while I'm obviously hoping we'll win if the Dubs win I'll say well done and good luck and I'd hope most of the Tyrone fans would be the same. It should be a great match. I think both teams will hit their best form in this match and I don't see too much in it either way.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

I think that that the use and rotation of subs could be crucial in this game, particularly for ourselves. MH will be at his chessmaster's best with Mulligan, Mulgrew, Mc Caul, Penrose, Gourley, Carlin, etc., doing Lanigan's Ball from the bench I'd say  (I know that's 6, but he has options  ). 

Ciarán Whelan reckons it's no bad thing that the game was deferred by one week, avoiding the threatened dearth of tickets; has to be positive I suppose, and no bad thing for ourselves either.

[Armamike]

I can't remember a Dublin victory over any one of the top teams in a long time so there's a massive level of pressure on Dublin going into this game - it's a must win game for the manager and team.  They're a bit overhyped (as usual) and Tyrone under Harte are very capable of putting in a big performance.  His ability to maximise his options and make the most of his resources in any one game is probably unrivalled by any other manager.   Tyrone have always got a chance in any game with the likes of McMenamin, Dooher and Cavanagh driving them on - big will to win with them. But they have gone back since 2005 - they are a slower team now all round, with far less intensity to their play (where's the ferocious, swarming tackling these days?).  Dublin have a decent set of forwards but will they have the composure and wherewithall as a team to do it?  Big question mark over whether they have developed to this point as a team yet and whether Pillar as a manager has learned anything these past few years. The Tyrone game will be a defining one for this Dublin team.

 

[Armamike]

Will we see more Tyrone facial hair growth at this match?  Is this some sort of team building thing along the lines of we won't shave till the all-ireland final? Expect to see Mickey Harte with one shortly.

[ziggysego]

Will we see more Tyrone facial hair growth at this match?  Is this some sort of team building thing along the lines of we won't shave till the all-ireland final? Expect to see Mickey Harte with one shortly.

Irish News did a piece on it today..... for some reason and it wasn't even in the sport's section.

[Puckoon]

throw it up there ziggy - Im sure passwords are no match for a man of your stature!

[ONeill]

As an act of solidarity, I haven't shaved since last Friday. I urge others to follow suit.

[Puckoon]

As long as we dont have to take to the blankets.

[INDIANA]

MH will be at his chessmaster's best with Mulligan, Mulgrew

they have to start for tyrone in my view. heard there will be a few changes to the dublin team. looking forward to it. even though we lost in 2005 they were two cracking games of ball, always found tyrone fans reasonable individuals. this time round it will be a dour tight affair, because i can't see tyrone winning any other way. weather forecast is brutal for the weekend so maybe its a good thing its put back. but it should be a good day out.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

MH will be at his chessmaster's best with Mulligan, Mulgrew

they have to start for tyrone in my view.

Reckon it would be too great a risk to start either or both, but they could provide a great boost from the bench, even if introduced only to be swapped off again. Having said that, if there's any arena that could lift Mulligan for 70 minutes then it's Croke against Dublin. Decisions, decisions.

Interesting to see what changes Pillar would make, in that it  would say as much about where he perceives our strengths to lie as much as where Dublin's weaknesses might.