McKenna Cup 2024

[border rabbit]

Good performances from the Donnellys, Mulligan, McCarron, Murphy and Harte (after they went down to 14). O'Neill's point out on the left was the score of the day.

Impressive was the workrate from the forwards. Mattie Donnelly covered every blade of grass and confident in possession. Hughes showed a nice composure on the ball.

I'm still not convinced defensively. Quinn was caught napping for Bradley's goal and that'll happen on the big stage. Bradley outfielded 4 defenders in the first half at one stage. McCarron played well almost as a wing forward and looked good on the eye (took his point well) but commits silly fouls on the back foot. An example was Derry's first of the second half when he tugged Gilligan I think.

Harte was tortured by Lynch in the first 20 and only when Derry went down to 14 and Justin kept an eye on Lynch was he able to express himself. I always wanted to see Harte as CHB but a good CHF will put him on the back foot and Tyrone need him on the ball. As a spare man he was gold dust even with the odd misplaced pass. Carlin is Carlin. He fouls but runs his arse off. Colm Cavanagh - the most ungainly looking footballer. Can't tackle, awkward solo. But he has something about him - sort of a less direct version of his brother - played one hell of a pass for one of Murphy's points.

Midfield? Still not part of Mickey's gameplan.

Add to that a complete cheat! He got Conway sent off for pulling his jersey, and rolled around holding his face! Hope this isnt a trend that Tyrone are reintroducing to their game! 

McCarron, Quinn, Donnelly, Murphy were the pick of the Tyrone players and they are all new faces which is a major plus for them! As for Derry they seemed to lack leadership and drive after OKane went off and Conway was away, Cant see them coming out of 2 this year.

[Leo]

Nearly fell off the treadmill in the gym this morning after seeing GAA on the telly here. It was a news piece on Robinson going to the game. Pity they hardly showed any of the game. They showed a few dull moments but there you go.

Good to see some progress on that front.

Thank God they showed little of the game, it was dire!
It is time for us in Ulster to shake off the siege mentality that has gripped not only our notion of how we are perceived eslewhere, but also the  dead-hand negativity that we have brought ot the game of gaelic football in recent years, initailly by Armagh, and, more profoundly by Tyrone - even lately being adopted by tradtional football teams like Donegal and Down.
Never mind the quality, feel the width of the outdoor basketball we have become.
It is a perverse version of the game, supported by flawed ideology from UUJ and similar establishments _ and vested interests with their "coaching" mantra - it is a pathetic spectacle as the bore-fest n TG4 showed last  night.
If it was not for our "county" tribalism who would ever go out of a cold night to watch such anti-joy (and often spiteful) nonesense?
THe big issue in GAA should not be ppayment to managers but the whole question of the calibre of managers and coaches.
We are being sold a pup and it doesn't even bark.

[Fuzzman]

Very interesting post there Leo and whilst we've benefited from three All-Irelands mainly because of it then you can see why other managers like McGuinness take it and build on it.

A lad told me about 5 years ago, he's fed up with the win at all costs attitude and the game has become ugly, cynical and downright not entertaining. I didn't get to see the match live last night but from what I heard it wasn't exactly a clean game.
A lot of bad feeling but I suppose we know these two teams love each other. I wonder did Robinson feel disappointed there wasn't more sledging?

Did anyone see why did the Derry keeper and FB react so badly to big Joey. Joey seemed to go in mouthing off to the keeper. Was there words said before that I wonder.

[oakleafgael]

Very interesting post there Leo and whilst we've benefited from three All-Irelands mainly because of it then you can see why other managers like McGuinness take it and build on it.

A lad told me about 5 years ago, he's fed up with the win at all costs attitude and the game has become ugly, cynical and downright not entertaining. I didn't get to see the match live last night but from what I heard it wasn't exactly a clean game.
A lot of bad feeling but I suppose we know these two teams love each other. I wonder did Robinson feel disappointed there wasn't more sledging?

Did anyone see why did the Derry keeper and FB react so badly to big Joey. Joey seemed to go in mouthing off to the keeper. Was there words said before that I wonder.

McMahon ran in and roared in his face after he let a very tame shot beat him at the near post. There was no need for it at all and nothing that had went before hand to warrant it. Never had McMahon down as that "sort" before.

[oakleafgael]

I think Conway got a red for going for Cavanagh's balls. His hand was around there anyway but not sure how much contact their was. Both were niggling at each other before this but Conway can have no complaints. Happened straight in front of the linesman (Brannigan) but he shook his head and referee appeared to be in contact with Hughes on the far side. Less said about the referee the better, was brutal for both sides. Few more Derry men could have got the line.

PJ had another fine game,McCarron was great at half back and maybe unlucky not to get MOTM but Murphy was very good in midfield. Mattie Donnelly had a good 2nd half and Mulligan and O'Neill were very sharp up front.

Your either a liar or blind, which is it? Conway and Cavanagh where pushing at each other. Cavanagh jabbed Conway who jabbed him back. Never a sending off. Cavanagh lay down to get Conway sent off.

[Archie Mitchell]

I think Conway got a red for going for Cavanagh's balls. His hand was around there anyway but not sure how much contact their was. Both were niggling at each other before this but Conway can have no complaints. Happened straight in front of the linesman (Brannigan) but he shook his head and referee appeared to be in contact with Hughes on the far side. Less said about the referee the better, was brutal for both sides. Few more Derry men could have got the line.

PJ had another fine game,McCarron was great at half back and maybe unlucky not to get MOTM but Murphy was very good in midfield. Mattie Donnelly had a good 2nd half and Mulligan and O'Neill were very sharp up front.

Your either a liar or blind, which is it? Conway and Cavanagh where pushing at each other. Cavanagh jabbed Conway who jabbed him back. Never a sending off. Cavanagh lay down to get Conway sent off.

I must have been seeing things then that happened about 20 feet in front of me. Must get my eyes checked this week then.

[under the bar]

McMahon ran in and roared in his face after he let a very tame shot beat him at the near post. There was no need for it at all and nothing that had went before hand to warrant it. Never had McMahon down as that "sort" before.

Maybe Justy was just advising the keeper to go to Weightwatchers?

[oakleafgael]

McMahon ran in and roared in his face after he let a very tame shot beat him at the near post. There was no need for it at all and nothing that had went before hand to warrant it. Never had McMahon down as that "sort" before.

Maybe Justy was just advising the keeper to go to Weightwatchers?

He would need to have been roaring brave and loud.

[oakleafgael]

I think Conway got a red for going for Cavanagh's balls. His hand was around there anyway but not sure how much contact their was. Both were niggling at each other before this but Conway can have no complaints. Happened straight in front of the linesman (Brannigan) but he shook his head and referee appeared to be in contact with Hughes on the far side. Less said about the referee the better, was brutal for both sides. Few more Derry men could have got the line.

PJ had another fine game,McCarron was great at half back and maybe unlucky not to get MOTM but Murphy was very good in midfield. Mattie Donnelly had a good 2nd half and Mulligan and O'Neill were very sharp up front.

Your either a liar or blind, which is it? Conway and Cavanagh where pushing at each other. Cavanagh jabbed Conway who jabbed him back. Never a sending off. Cavanagh lay down to get Conway sent off.

I must have been seeing things then that happened about 20 feet in front of me. Must get my eyes checked this week then.

McCanney's Opticans in Omagh. Rosa is a nice girl and will sort you out. I hope they always give you the stupid end of the measuring tape as well.

[under the bar]

All water under the bridge now OLG.

See you in the USFC!

[oakleafgael]

All water under the bridge now OLG.

See you in the USFC!

I wouldnt think it. Can't see us doing a big pile this year, same with Tyrone. Would do no harm to have two evenly matched Derry and Tyrone teams going at it again, the Tyrone/Armagh rivalry made us jealous for a while.

[Give and Go]

Ye're being hard on the teams. It was a nasty game, there was a small bit of stopping runs etc. No belts thrown, no dangerous tackles, maybe one but it was ok for January!
Sending off was wrong. I was possibly nearest spectator. Conway def checked Cavanagh twice, first time near linesman should have flagged it and the second wouldn't have happened. The second was frustrating but harmless. Yellow card max.
Karma intervened then as Cavanagh broke a rib or two almost immediately after in an innocent tangle.
Both teams will be bog players before year is out. Lots of absentees, but Tyrone's newcomers impressed most.

[Keane]

Another thing - Tyrone got away with a lot of blocking off the ball.

Thought this seemed to be creeping back into the game a fair bit last year after refs had done a great job stamping it out over the few seasons before. Hopefully notice is taken of it and they crack down on it again.

Is game repeated or online anywhere?

Should be available on the TG4 player for a couple of weeks.

[Radda bout yeee]

I wonder could we get a lip reading expert to determine what Brennan was saying to the referee when the goof was down injured?
I'm sure it was insightful from the ignorant gulpin!!!

[sheamy]

I wonder could we get a lip reading expert to determine what Brennan was saying to the referee when the goof was down injured?
I'm sure it was insightful from the ignorant gulpin!!!

Theres quite a few of your lads who say the same thing about him. They didn't rate him at all and v surprised he got a county job

County titles with five different clubs in three different counties. The man obviously knows nothing with that record.

I know a lot of your lads who rate him very highly and are thankful he didn't get the derry county job a number of years ago.