After watching a brilliant All Ireland semi Final I cannot help but query why so few people saw this new Tyrone team coming down the road.
I was in our County town on the day after Donegal sent them packing out of the Ulster championship. It was midday and the local know it all GAA men were in full chourus. One particular loud HA HA man was shouting at a Tyrone local yez wont be going far the year.... yez need a new manager.... the next game should put an end to yer pain.... I dident open my mouth as I had seen enough spirit in Tyrone on the previous day to know that they would cause loads trouble before the exited 2015. I would love to meet that tractor mouth tomorrow.
How come so few pundits, well paid sports writers, Gaa aristocrats etc dident read what Harte was up to. He had more walkouts and resignations that ever other counties put together in this past 12 months. I heard from a reliable source that this new team only started gelling together 7 weeks ago.
Yet the came close to getting to an All Ireland final. And had the got across the line today and given that they only started gelling 7 weeks ago they couldve caused the biggest upset in Gaa circles in a long time.
Believe me they will be on the big stage next year. As for my own county well unfortunatly they are as far away as they were two years ago. Kerry would have wiped croke park with them today.
Tyrone raised their game at least 6 fold for today. Goes to prove that what a few sensible men were saying was correct and that is that Tyrone were only playing cat and mouse with Monaghan.
So fair play to our neighbours. We are still living in your shadows.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 23/08/2015 19:46:33    1774796

Dont agree with this at all.Tyrone are a good side.I wudnt go overboard about them.After losing to Donegal again(is that 4/5 times in a row?),they played Limerick & Meath in Omagh,Tipp in Thurles,Sligo,Monaghan & Kerry in Croke Park.Upto today,they had a favourable route through to the semi final.Monaghan flattered to deceive in HQ once again.Tyrone beat what was put in front of them,and fair play,but although they battled hard today and were right in it with ten minutes to go,they just dont have the scoring power to win an All Ireland.Not yet anyway.Ive seen them decline since their last win in 2008.Yes ,hey lost a huge amount of serious talent,and rebuilding takes time.They are beginning to show signs of recovery and have talent coming through from U21s,but even after today,i remain to be convinced.Still a bit behind Dublin,Mayo and Kerry.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 23/08/2015 20:07:00    1774808

I agree Border Gael, not just about this issue. Lazy journalism is prevalent, where reporters and panelists repeat what they hear elsewhere. There is hardly an original thought from any of them. Tyrone's progress and potential was obvious from the Donegal game albeit disguised at time by some strange 1 half displays. Informed pundits would have spotted that.

IsMise (Tyrone) - Posts: 119 - 23/08/2015 20:48:03    1774836

border Gael
County: Monaghan
Posts: 385

You know I never really thought they looked like getting the win, much like ourselves against them a couple of weeks ago. The difference though was Tyrone were playing at full tilt against a fantastic side where we played well below par against a good side. That's what they are at the moment. They are shy a few top quality players yet.

As for this constant plamausing them while running down Monaghan....Whats that about? Maybe you moved across the border.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 23/08/2015 21:01:40    1774851

I remember reading an article before the championship where writers and pundits were asked to predict their final 4. More at that stage went for Tyrone to make the semi's over Donegal at the time so I don't buy into everyone writing them off. The general consensus in the media after Ballybofey was that Tyrone were far from finished so not sure who you refer to were writing them off. As for today's game it was one they will feel they let slip through their fingers much like Donegal in the AI against the same opposition the year before.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 23/08/2015 21:11:21    1774865

I think Tyrone are one of half a dozen above average teams that can make a quarter or semi final every year. To achieve this you need a bit of luck with the draw which Tyrone got this year beating Limerick, Sligo and Tipperary as well as a shell shocked Meath team. Four fairly average teams, granted Monaghan were Ulster Champions when they then beat them but this was a perfect game for Tyrone. The two big games they played this year they were in truth beat well. I think Kerry played very tactically today and went up the levels when they needed to, Kerry were cute and have a huge respect for Tyrone so they played a completly different game. Tyrone have potential granted but unless there are 5 or 6 forwards waiting in the wings this team will continue to show endeavour and determination but will not beat the biggest teams. There is no guarantee they will even win Ulster imo.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 23/08/2015 21:51:13    1774893

Calm down, they are a top 6 side but not there yet. Still depending on Cavanagh.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7908 - 23/08/2015 21:57:45    1774900

I don't get this concept of step change or back at the top table
Over the past five years Tyrone have lost in Ulster mainly narrowly to Donegal - they have had good runs in qualifiers and then hit the wall once they meet Dublin, Mayo or Kerry and fallen short by 4-5 points ( last year they exited to Armagh which was an upset ) but other than that the firm is constant they are a 5th / 6th ranked team and have been mainly consistent with that

Best case is they overcome a weaker Donegal in future and then face a tougher Ulster campaign

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 23/08/2015 21:59:06    1774902

I was at the game yesterday and had a great view of the proceedings. It was obvious at half time that all Tyrone was really able to do was to stay with Kerry. Kerry were much too strong, they bossed the game. Held Tyrone off when they wanted to, were cynical when necessary and stroked the points over when the opportunity arrived. Kerry were class. Tyrone just did not have the quality in every position unlike Kerry. Tyrone are a good side but not a team of star quality and that's what it takes to win all Irelands. Kerry won deservedly so and will be a tough cookie to crack in the final.

Tyrone of 2015 were a good side. I think they would struggle to have beaten any of the other semi finalists though, Dublin and Mayo would also perhaps have beaten Tyrone. So for me Tyrone must be at least placed as the 4th / 5th best team in the country. They need to crack on now and win an ulster, but that will depend largely on how Donegal bounce back from their less than satisfactory season.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 24/08/2015 08:32:53    1774915

23/08/2015 19:46:33
border Gael
County: Monaghan
Posts: 385

1774796
How come so few pundits, well paid sports writers, Gaa aristocrats etc dident read what Harte was up to. He had more walkouts and resignations that ever other counties put together in this past 12 months. I heard from a reliable source that this new team only started gelling together 7 weeks ago.

I think you answered your own question here yourself. New team, definitely on the up IMO. WOuld have been ranked 6/7/8 maybe at the start of teh year. WIll be ranked 4, 5 or 6 next year based on yesterday's performance and in order to be considered top 3 will need to make an AI final on a couple of occassions. This is definitely possible but still needs to be proven.

thykingdomcome1 (Kerry) - Posts: 78 - 24/08/2015 08:43:58    1774917

Good year for Tyrone considering their first round exist to Donegal. Have players coming through from u-21 level so are beginning to come back in my opinion.
I would throw a few pound on them winning Ulster next year.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11245 - 24/08/2015 09:04:50    1774921

Was at game yesterday. Tyrone were impressive in making a good game of it for the most part but Kerry had the extra kick when they needed it. Very hard working pacey side Tyrone with direct runners but still lack the quality up front they had ten years ago to make a real challenge.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1803 - 24/08/2015 09:26:14    1774934

seanie08
County: Monaghan
Posts: 928

That's fair assessment Seanie, it comes down to quality and Kerry had more of it yesterday. Tyrone are lacking in quality in certain positions. They are a well drilled, pacey side but when your playing the big boys you need the quality as well

TyroneLegend78 (Tyrone) - Posts: 52 - 24/08/2015 09:56:37    1774967

I'd say all the vital signs are good at this stage, plenty of promise and endeavour demonstrated yesterday, now need that extra bit of quality to bring us up to the next level, it will come.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 24/08/2015 10:04:12    1774974

If they can get Kyle Coney to get the finger out for next year and Cavanagh to stay on they'll be hard put down. McCurry was their only ball winner inside yesterday.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9171 - 24/08/2015 10:41:43    1775004

Despite my reservations after the quarter-final I did shout for Tyrone yesterday (I'm sure that no one from Tyrone actually cares). They really did as well as I expected and could have got over the line, but I'm not sure that they are that much better than they were in 2103 and with the older players starting to creak they will need a few more to come into the team quickly.

rcarragh (Dublin) - Posts: 305 - 24/08/2015 10:43:44    1775008

Tyrone improved game by game this year helped by the back door draw they are well drilled and break at pace but unable to score goals,missing a free taker and an erratic goalkeeper also.I Would rank them just outside top 4 behind kerry.dublin,mayo,donegal,they havent beaten donegal in a while in ulster championship.

93vintageyear (Derry) - Posts: 301 - 24/08/2015 10:58:29    1775025

Still dont think Tyrone are a top team
I honestly wouldnt fear them atall, and I would still have Donegal Kerry Dublin and Mayo ahead of them
i think they exposed a few flaws in kerry yesterday for ourselves and mayo to look at

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 24/08/2015 12:12:30    1775118

I agree with Liam, I don't think Tyrone are a top team and I don't think there's any doubt about that but they do defend very well and it keeps them very competitive. Honestly I think if they cut out all the moaning, excuses and this seemingly insatiable need to play the victim they will do better next year, excuses are the road to nowhere though and I see Cavanagh coming out today moaning about the referee, very disappointing to see from such a great player.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 24/08/2015 12:54:10    1775173

Tyrone are clearly an emerging force, and I felt they were marginally better than Kerry yesterday for long periods. Tyrone looked fresher, and did anybody notice the pace at which Tyrone could break, something I didn't see Kerry do all day.

While everybody was saying how Donegal had a lot of miles on the clock, they definitely ignored the fact that Mayo, Kerry and even Dublin also have a lot of miles on the clock now. The big 4 of the last 4 years all have plenty of miles on the clock, and I felt that showed yesterday, as Tyrone had an extra bit of pace about them and extra gears.

Their biggest downfall was losing a lot of decisions as a result of the previous negative publicity of the Monaghan game, and they wasted a few easy chances that could have still got them a draw or possibly a win despite the referee Maurice Deegan.

The big thing gained this year for Tyrone, is having Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly and Tiernan McCann all bombing forward. It has given them a new dimension and helped them link play to the full forwards.

I feel their run through the Qualifiers has helped them bond as a team and become a very great threat. Defensively they are much tighter and offensively they have the full forwards to inflict damage. The only area were they are slightly inferior to some teams, would be midfield were their starting 15 lack height in comparision with Kerry. However that has not been a major problem for Tyrone, as they are tactically astute enough to side step midfield battles against sides with stronger midfield pairings.

They are a hungry team, and I think they will be serious challengers next season.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 24/08/2015 13:58:55    1775277