After match needs to be looked after by GAA. Mc Men was out of order for most of the match but Gooch answered most of that with some fine play and scores. Yet Gooch is not completely blameless. After his goal he gestured at the Tyrone crowd in a provocative fashion. O'Connor's intervention and the Kerry mentor mocking the Tyrone fans were despicable acts also. These 4 need to answer for their actions as their actions have nasty consequences.

This type of behaviour is not what the GAA is about and along with feigning injury needs to be rooted out. None of it could be described as manly, in fact it is quite the opposite. If they (Gooch, Mc Men, O' Connor and the Kerry mentor) are so manly then I challenge them to do likewise when there are a few more of their opposite number around.

Kerry deserved their win and did most of their talking on the pitch, yet their non-football antics were disgusting and anti-GAA.

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 15/02/2009 19:02:25    207359

A fairly enjoyable afternoon. Tyrone were just abysmal in the first half and really there was little positive to take from it at all. Kerry on the other hand were super, they seemed to have oceans of space when they were on the ball and always the extra man. Walsh up front was a real handful, I really enjoyed watching him.

Second half and things improved from a Tyrone perspective although it still wasn't great. I know Kerry only scored two points in the half but they could have had three goals, the way they cut open the Tyrone defence was worrying. Curran made some good saves and was solid under the high ball but the kick-outs were generally dreadful. I'd have to say that all three of our 'keepers have the same issue to be honest. I though Cassidy did well and it was a shame he had to go off, McCullough had a day to forget and - like in the Dublin game - he got caught in possession too much. However, at least we started to see some forraging runs from Jordan and McMenamin in that half which was more like it.


Thought the ref was poor - for both sides. As for McMenemin, well only his mother could love him to be honest. I didn't see what happened clearly at all but heard Ricey was in the thick of it. I'll wait to see if it shows it on the TV tonight. Plus Galvin's dive was terrible, he's like Ricey in that respect, does himself no favours. Still it got the crowd wound up at the end and all which adds a bit of spice for any potential meeting in the Championship!


All in all Kerry fully deserved the win, Tyrone have work to do. They can't have every game in the open spaces of Croker! I'd say Kerry certainly had fewer of the big guns than Tyrone did and they seem to be motoring along quite nicely.

bert (Tyrone) - Posts: 105 - 15/02/2009 19:14:48    207389

Good win for the kingdom, they effectively had it wrapped up as a contest by halftime, but fair play to Tyrone for a spirited fightback. Whilst I am always disappointed when Tyrone lose, I wont read too much into this defeat, as I didn't in victory over Dublin either. Early season skirmishes and no more so heres to Kerry and I dont envy your long trip home tonight. As for some of the posters on this thread, the enivitable mix of WUM's and dubious Tyrone fans as well as the occasional Armagh and Meath chancers thrown in for good measure, as a county we are good enough to take it on the chin, these two teams will invariably meet sometime in the summer no doubt and I for one cant wait.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 15/02/2009 19:15:59    207396

I really enjoyed this game and Kerry deserved to win on their 1st half display. Tyrone played well in the 2nd half but had too much to do. It was not a dirty match by any stretch of the imagination. The display of refereeing left a lot to be desired. Have the G.A.A. developed the new rule to stop the blanket defence ? Once again this question arises !! Frees seemed to be awarded for the least little thing in this game much to the annoyance of the players, particularly the Tyrone players. I could not understand some of them !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 15/02/2009 19:45:31    207428

mc menamin got away with alot today and i thought tyrone got more than the rub of the green from the ref. Best team won today but cannot understand why ricey wasn't red carded after the final whistle.
Sam 02, how did your lads do last night?
There was no nonsense in the crowd at Omagh today, both sets of supporters cheered their teams on and the atmosphere was very jovial at the end despite the antics of players and officials

bigbongo (Tyrone) - Posts: 50 - 15/02/2009 19:49:26    207436

i would like to say sorry to kerry supporters,for the treatment of there team ,by my own supporters and players,poor goalie got it rough.i tried my best to stop it but iwas 1 amongst many.

olivers (Tyrone) - Posts: 283 - 15/02/2009 19:51:59    207438

omaghjoe
County: Tyrone
Posts: 347

For one for me Kerry are still the team of the decade. Tyrone win next year maybe they will have some claims but I'd still say that they need at least another final appearance after that. Teams of the decade are generally consistent. Tyrone blow hot and cold. Kerry generally pop up in the final.
As for the claims that Kerry were bad sports. I think a lack of respect from Tyrone fans can help maybe to get your blood boiling, don't you!?!?
Tyrone supporters are the worst in Ireland. They are arrogant, loud and ignorant. I know I was at the Wexford/Tyrone match last year when I heard all the gloating and jeering (English soccer like jeering I might add) when they were giving us a roasting in the first half. Hey I'm sure that there are some really nice people from Tyrone but not many of those go to watch the Tyrone football team.

ColinWex (Wexford) - Posts: 901 - 15/02/2009 20:01:38    207447

according to you real tyrone-louth fan its ok for tyrone players to be abusive to other teams fans ,but not for other players to give it back . and fair play to you olivers for been honest but to be fair its only a minority of tyrone fans

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 15/02/2009 20:05:43    207452

Olivers is not from Tyrone, thats official, he was just passing through!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 15/02/2009 20:15:50    207465

RICEY IS ONE OF IF NOT THE BEST DEFENDERS IN THE COUNTRY. THAT IS WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE DONT LIKE HIM, ESPECIALLY KERRY PEOPLE. HE IS A GREAT SPORTSMAN LIKE ALL HIS TEAM MATES. WISH I COULD SAY THE SAME FOR KERRY. TY 09 SAM

tyrone4sam08 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4 - 15/02/2009 20:16:09    207466

tyrone4sam08:

I suggest you go and look up the meaning of the word 'sportsman' in the dictionary!

And no I don't need to use capital letters to make a point!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 15/02/2009 21:08:40    207538

Today we had a very sporting game of football, played by the two best teams of the past decade and people take a couple of small incidents and blow them out of all proportion. Ricey was wrong to do what he did and Galvin's reaction was as equally unsporting, but neither were a big deal. O'Connor's reaction at the end appeared to be something to do with what McCullagh said to him, would have thought that he would know better. Harte will probably smile to himself tonight, Kerry's ill-discipline helped Tyrone last year and it must be a worry that the leadership cannot control themselves . Walsh is definitely a monster, going to be even more difficult to stop this year. Not sure if Kerry should use the Twin Towers approach, might be better having two smaller players feeding off Donaghy or Walsh. Tyrone's full back line looked very suspect but better to learn that now than in the championship later on in the year.
I was in the stand and didn't see any bad behaviour by Tyrone fans, but if there were Tyrone fans throwing stuff at the Kerry keeper then they should stay away. We don't want them.

MB1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 360 - 15/02/2009 21:56:21    207606

Bomber summed it up bon Sunday Sport this evening by sayiing Kerry would love to beat Tyrone in this years championship.

Today's result - irrelevant. I can't remember the results of their league fixtures in '03, '05 and '08.

I CAN though remember the result of their championship fixtures in each of those years......................

PearseBro (Monaghan) - Posts: 459 - 15/02/2009 22:04:37    207616

Tyrone are a fine team but they seriously need to address certain things. Some of what a certain chap does has no part in any sport. And I've heard exactly what he has said to Dublin, Kerry and Wexford players. As even a Tyrone man here admitted, only his mother could love him.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 15/02/2009 22:24:53    207644

Ryan Mc Menamin's behaviour, not just today, is utterly deplorable. As a Tyrone man, he infuriates me every time he plays. I know he is a quality player and gives his everything for his county but i cant help but think that he'd be much better concentrating on playing football rather than winding people up. How Mickey Harte (who is a man i respect so much not just for his footballing achievements but his general views on GAA and Irish life) can condone Mc Menamin's behaviour is beyond me!! He is virtually the polar opposite to Mickey!!

Mickey please address Mc Menamins behaviour, he is seriously giving Tyrone people and Tyrone football the worst possible name.

WE ARE NOT ALL LIKE RICEY - TRUST ME!

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 15/02/2009 22:34:43    207654

sam02
County: Armagh
Posts: 96

207249 Well done Kerry, revenge is sweet, and showed Tyrone supporters up ion the eyes of all Irelaqnd, lovely people when they are winning.

interesting sam, any thoughts on game in armagh sat nite, or the actions of people on the line

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 15/02/2009 22:34:52    207655

Well said rio bingo. I have uttermost respect for Harte and what he represents in his county and as you say his general outlook as an Irishman. He should put manners on that pup.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 15/02/2009 22:39:01    207661

rio bongo,well said there is hope at the end of the tunnell.

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 15/02/2009 22:39:11    207662

I agree that McMenamin should rap that oul nonsense up as The Gooch just answered it in the way he knows. Stick to the football Ryan because that's what you do best. I also agree that O'Connor losing the plot at the end could come back to haunt him this season. His emotions could get the better of his tactics, he's so desperate to beat Tyrone in an All Ireland that he could lose sight of the bigger picture. They DO have problems at full back however and they will have to address that if they are to defend their title. Good to see Tommy Walsh also in fine form, in the first half anyway. The GAA need to keep talent like that. Finally those yellow cards are a joke, to see a player walk after an innocuous and pretty harmless tackle is nonsense, total nonsense. I wouldn't get too hung up on the scenes at the final whistle but watch the BBC & UTV use it once again to beat the GAA over the head with. I will put my house on it topping the sports headlines in the Unionist media here.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 15/02/2009 22:39:43    207665

Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 207

I agree about the yellow cards but it works both ways, some players who should be sent off are not going off and being replaced. It's an easy way out for the Refs. Think the yellow card has been introduced to take pressure off the refs rather than improve the game of football or hurling.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 15/02/2009 22:58:12    207699