McKenna Cup 2026

[nrico2006]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

[illdecide]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

Because it generally takes about 4-5 years to convert these young wans into Gareth Brook fans and then they're ready...

[ck]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

Maybe theyre too young so not quite good enough yet? (Probably stating the obvious)

What Kerry and Dublin minors went straight into senior panel??

[blewuporstuffed]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

Maybe theyre too young so not quite good enough yet? (Probably stating the obvious)

What Kerry and Dublin minors went straight into senior panel??

I dont think Tyrone are any better or worse than any of the other 'top teir' counties (and i would question the wisdom of bringing 18/19 year olds into a senior intercounty setup anyway).

[NaomhBridAbú]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

Maybe theyre too young so not quite good enough yet? (Probably stating the obvious)

What Kerry and Dublin minors went straight into senior panel??

There would be a few answers to that...
- not all minors make good senior footballers
- not all minors want to play football after a certain age
- university...alot of lads end up going to Uni in England or Scotland
- minors typically - with the rare exception - make it straight rom Minor to senior...the make up of the senior panel has an influence on that too...its hard to upstage and replace good senior players, esp those who have won the big prizes, which happened with tyrone of the last few years
- u21s is much more relevant than minor in talent progression (in my opinion)
- women, drink, drugs and Grand theft Auto 5

[ck]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

Maybe theyre too young so not quite good enough yet? (Probably stating the obvious)

What Kerry and Dublin minors went straight into senior panel??

There would be a few answers to that...
- not all minors make good senior footballers
- not all minors want to play football after a certain age
- university...alot of lads end up going to Uni in England or Scotland
- minors typically - with the rare exception - make it straight rom Minor to senior...the make up of the senior panel has an influence on that too...its hard to upstage and replace good senior players, esp those who have won the big prizes, which happened with tyrone of the last few years
- u21s is much more relevant than minor in talent progression (in my opinion)
- women, drink, drugs and Grand theft Auto 5

Question remains unanswered. What Dublin or Kerry players go straight into seniors from minors in recent years?? I'm not aware of any.
It takes a seriously gifted player to step up at 18/19 and with the physical requirement in the game now it's even more unusual

[Max Payne]

Why are Tyrone so bad at bringing minors straight through to the senior squad?  Every year there is a spatter of new faces but rarely do we see the better players from the previous years minor teams pulled through.  Other counties such as Dublin and Kerry aren't afraid to do it, why the blockage in Tyrone?

Maybe theyre too young so not quite good enough yet? (Probably stating the obvious)

What Kerry and Dublin minors went straight into senior panel??

There would be a few answers to that...
- not all minors make good senior footballers
- not all minors want to play football after a certain age
- university...alot of lads end up going to Uni in England or Scotland
- minors typically - with the rare exception - make it straight rom Minor to senior...the make up of the senior panel has an influence on that too...its hard to upstage and replace good senior players, esp those who have won the big prizes, which happened with tyrone of the last few years
- u21s is much more relevant than minor in talent progression (in my opinion)
- women, drink, drugs and Grand theft Auto 5

There exists a school of thought in Tyrone that the current development squad culture is doing more harm than good. Lads grow up thinking they are guaranteed to be a senior star after being pampered from U14 and when adult football kicks in they are not prepared to work as hard for it.

Just a theory I've heard discussed...

[ONeill]

Was at the Antrim/Armagh game. The Saffrons were dire but I spose tis only mid January. They left poor Magill up on his own surrounded by 4-5 Armagh defenders.

Conor McGourty had no choice but to hit frees just outside the scoring range back towards his own midfield as there wasn't a soul to target. Clarke had little to do stationed on the half back line so spent most of the match looking to get involved up where he should be.

Some of the Armagh tackling was exemplary. I just wonder if they'll find scoring a problem this year against decent defences. 

[NaomhBridAbú]

Was at the Antrim/Armagh game. The Saffrons were dire but I spose tis only mid January. They left poor Magill up on his own surrounded by 4-5 Armagh defenders.

Conor McGourty had no choice but to hit frees just outside the scoring range back towards his own midfield as there wasn't a soul to target. Clarke had little to do stationed on the half back line so spent most of the match looking to get involved up where he should be.

Some of the Armagh tackling was exemplary. I just wonder if they'll find scoring a problem this year against decent defences.

was there also...thought Finden and jamie clarke were very strong...clarke makes it all look so easy, regardless of the conditions

[ck]

Was at the Antrim/Armagh game. The Saffrons were dire but I spose tis only mid January. They left poor Magill up on his own surrounded by 4-5 Armagh defenders.

Conor McGourty had no choice but to hit frees just outside the scoring range back towards his own midfield as there wasn't a soul to target. Clarke had little to do stationed on the half back line so spent most of the match looking to get involved up where he should be.

Some of the Armagh tackling was exemplary. I just wonder if they'll find scoring a problem this year against decent defences.

was there also...thought Finden and jamie clarke were very strong...clarke makes it all look so easy, regardless of the conditions

Is it actually true that Jamie Clarke is being played in defence??

[ONeill]

Findon is a quare unit.

Jamie is better than most on the pitch every time he takes to the field.....I just think he's a bit of a conundrum.

He seems to get swallowed up against good defences. He didn't score against Donegal last year, scored a point from play against Tyrone.

The fact that McGeeney is messing around with him now suggests he's trying to change his game somewhat.

[NaomhBridAbú]

Findon is a quare unit.

Jamie is better than most on the pitch every time he takes to the field.....I just think he's a bit of a conundrum.

He seems to get swallowed up against good defences. He didn't score against Donegal last year, scored a point from play against Tyrone.

The fact that McGeeney is messing around with him now suggests he's trying to change his game somewhat.

playing in attack or defence, he is completely fearless...e was getting some serious hits yesterday and was playing on...thought the red against him was harsh but it shows that he can mix it....if mcgeeny gets it right he has a deadly asset and it was great to see kaolin rafferty and him swapping positions...was happy to see armagh looking more like a solid team...

[ck]

Findon is a quare unit.

Jamie is better than most on the pitch every time he takes to the field.....I just think he's a bit of a conundrum.

He seems to get swallowed up against good defences. He didn't score against Donegal last year, scored a point from play against Tyrone.

The fact that McGeeney is messing around with him now suggests he's trying to change his game somewhat.

playing in attack or defence, he is completely fearless...e was getting some serious hits yesterday and was playing on...thought the red against him was harsh but it shows that he can mix it....if mcgeeny gets it right he has a deadly asset and it was great to see kaolin rafferty and him swapping positions...was happy to see armagh looking more like a solid team...

They lost last week and yesterday they beat a shambles of an antrim team. I wouldn't be getting too excited for armagh just yet. Despite the hype and serious money he spends, McGeeney has won nothing as a manager.

[ck]

Would agree with you on that Jaie Clarke. He's  one player ID travel and pay in to see. Hope McGeeney doesn't ruin him

[ONeill]

Would agree with you on that Jaie Clarke. He's  one player ID travel and pay in to see. Hope McGeeney doesn't ruin him

I think he has to try something. As a target man Clarke wasn't cutting it against tight defences, despite having all the talent in the world. I remember him against Tyrone in Healy last year - he had the beating of every Tyrone defender but kept stepping back when on a run, making a score more difficult that it could have been. I don't know whether he's unsure of his own pace but he has the talent to be posting Gooch-like scores.