Preview: SFC qualifier - Sligo v Tyrone

August 01, 2015

Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh speaks to team mates.
©INPHO/Presseye/Lorcan Doherty.

There is no danger of Mickey Harte taking Sligo for granted in Croke Park today.

Back in 2002, Tyrone travelled to Croke Park as red-hot favourites for a round 4 qualifier against the Yeats County but they were sent home with their tail between their legs and that defeat heralded Harte's arrival as manager the following year.

The rest, as they say, is history but, as a result, the three-time All-Ireland winning manager will give Sligo the respect they deserve as he attempts to guide the Red Hands to a 10th All-Ireland SFC quarter-final under his watch.

With players of the calibre of Sean Cavanagh, Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly, Darren McCurry and Connor McAliskey moving well, it's highly unlikely that history will repeat itself at headquarters today.

Momentum is very much on the Ulster outfit's side following their back-door wins over Limerick, Meath and Tipperary. Sligo, on the other hand, were on the receiving hand of a 6-25 to 2-11 mauling at the hands of Mayo in the Connacht SFC decider.

"There was a hangover from the Mayo game but it's important that we don't dwell on it," manager Niall Carew remarked this week."We must look now to Tyrone and take it from there.

"We have to focus on Tyrone and the big thing is to make sure what happened against Mayo doesn't happen again on Saturday.

"This requires a huge amount on concentration and workrate from the players."

The team that took to the Dr Hyde Park field for the Nestor Cup final have been given the chance to redeem themselves as Carew and his selectors have resisted the temptation to make any changes.

Harte, meanwhile, has made one alteration with Rory Brennan coming in at left corner-back in place of Cathal McCarron, who is said to be unavailable.

Verdict - Tyrone.

Sligo team: Aidan Devaney; Ross Donavan, Kevin McDonnell, Daniel Maye; Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, Eoin Flanagan; Cian Breheny, Niall Murphy; Brian Curran, Mark Breheny, Neil Ewing; David Kelly, Pat Hughes, Adrian Marren.

Tyrone team: N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee, R Brennan; R McNabb, J McMahon, P Harte; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; T McCann, M Bradley, C Meyler; D McCurry, S Cavanagh, C McAliskey.

Match details: Saturday; Croke Park; 4pm; extra-time playable.

Referee: Rory Hickey.

Odds: Sligo 10/1; Draw 20/1; Tyrone 1/20.


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