I agree with Ulsterman.. well said on mcMenamin.. As for Jack, he definately lost the cool and should have known better, the addition of Eamon Fitzmaurice to his backroom team will however bring a level of calmness in volatile situations and I expect fitzy to have a big influence on the shape of this kerry team before end of year.

Ardsanaer (Monaghan) - Posts: 3 - 15/02/2009 23:03:25    207707

How do people think Kennelly will go for Kerry when included. Where do you think he'll play? Mid-field?
Do you see him as a valuable addition to the team or do you think he's been out of the game for too long to still be able to cope with the game?

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 15/02/2009 23:08:10    207716

Kennelly will need time to settle in but he's a fairly driven character.. Probalbly be most effective in half forward line with Galvin and O Sullivan scrapping for breaking ball around the middle.. well worth having on board.. Long way to go yet and Tyrone still look like team to beat.

Ardsanaer (Monaghan) - Posts: 3 - 15/02/2009 23:19:30    207723

I think it will still come down to Kerry, Tyrone or Galway this year. These 3 and maybe Cork are the only serious contenders at this time. Dublin, Armagh and Mayo are in the second tier good enough to beat anyone on their day but not strong enough to maintain a serious challenge that involves beating 2 or 3 top teams along the way. Kerry look like they will put up a very strong campaign but they have faded a good bit in the second half of their last 2 matches and that will cause them some concern. Tyrone playing very ordinary today sniffed that out and came within a score of a draw when the game should have been over at half time. Kerry need to learn how to really put Tyrone away, if Tyrone with a full team are still in with a shout with 15 mins to go they are as good as winners. They were missing 3 or 4 important players today, as were Kerry to be fair.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 15/02/2009 23:19:34    207724

Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 213

Come on you can't expect Kerry to be in full flight at this time of the year, surely you'd expect them to fade at the end?
Every team has it's ups and downs in the game.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 15/02/2009 23:34:48    207740

It's not just on Kerry's displays this season. They are a tremendous side to watch at times but I get the impression stamina is a problem with them sometimes and it was against Tyrone last year. When they tire a bit they lose that focus, drive and confidence and that's when Tyrone come good. Tyrone seem to know that Kerry will fade in the last quarter. However it's all up in the air again this season.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 15/02/2009 23:41:12    207742

As a wise man said in the paper this morning Tyrone conned Kerry into the twin tower approach, and it suited Tyrone.

With the new rules people such as Darragh and Declan O'Sullivan running at you are going to be hard to stop.

Mind you Tyrone have two new forwards in Mulligan and O'Neill this year, if you follow what I mean.

But who knows if they will even meet?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 16/02/2009 00:39:26    207781

kerry just about deserved their victory and well done to them. jack will be happy for his young players who performed well especially walsh who was outstanding in the first half and david moran who set up both goals. bohane looks like a defender and darren o sullivan completely destroyed our full back line for pace. however harte will probably be the happier even though this sounds crazy. he tested a few lads yeaterday and they werent up to it and with o neill out he will probably figure that come sept or april in a league final tyrone will have learnt the more and will be fitter. so i wouldnt get too carried away with the defeat. the hammering the dubs got yesterday confirmed my worst fears that tyrone got a lot of plaudits for beating the worst defence in the division. with regard to the antics of some of our so called fans pelting the kery keeper thats just not on. probably a few drunken fools.

bigfinger (Tyrone) - Posts: 203 - 16/02/2009 08:40:10    207817

Think some of the posts on this are pretty abject. What's all this nonsense about revenge is sweet and bringing back the traditional game? Some people's lack of tactical analysis is truly shocking.
As for ricey, he is a disgrace and has been for many years. He's a good footballer when he wants to be but when his career is over people won't say, "remember what a good footballer mcmenamin was?" The same can be said for Galvin. McMenamin's antics for Dromore in Tyrone club football have to be seen to be believed. I think it was OmaghJoe who said he had gooch in his pocket. If two goals is in his pocket he must be the greatest defender ever.
Didn't see any incidents at the gortin end against murphy from fans, but come on, every team has morons for supporters, don't make a moron out of claiming tyrone are any worse than any other county in Ireland in that respect.
Thought O'Connor's behaviour bodes well for Tyrone, ill-discipline still reigns supreme in kingdom, no matter how bad it is to see a payer like ricey do it, a manager doing it is a thousand times worse, can you imagine mickey at that caper?

milo (Tyrone) - Posts: 238 - 16/02/2009 08:59:36    207825

Ulsterman, I totally agree. Watch the BBC and UTV news tonight everyone and you can be guaranteed yesterdays events will be top billing on the Sports news. And just to clarify to our southern brethern, the only time GAA gets top billing on these new bulletins is when there is a bit of controversy.

Rio Bingo (Tyrone) - Posts: 788 - 16/02/2009 09:04:08    207828

On first half showing alone Kerry deserved victory. However, how the referee missed blatant push in the back for the 2nd Kerry goal beggars belief. Think he should stick to the snooker!!!

Mick O Connell (None) - Posts: 1231 - 16/02/2009 09:11:40    207835

Best team on the day won and yes a few Tyrone players where sore losers but you need not think Micky Heart will let those players away with that. Handbag stuff anyway.

Too early in the year to be judging any team, but one thing for sure as every other year, Kerry will take a lot of beating.

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 16/02/2009 09:22:14    207841

I thought the Ref was very harsh on the two Kerry men in the second half. No need to take the book out atal

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 16/02/2009 09:47:54    207855

Is it only after today people are realising what kind of player McMenamin is? He has been at those antics for years. I am a strong supporter of Mickey Hartre and I think he is an exceptional manager but by not publicly denouncing McMenamins behaviour it will seem as if he is condoning it. I guess the best way to handle it though is the way cooper did and show his limitations as a footballer.

JohnMitchel (Dublin) - Posts: 178 - 16/02/2009 09:58:54    207863

16/02/2009 09:04:08 Rio Bingo County: Tyrone Posts: 351 207828 Ulsterman, I totally agree. Watch the BBC and UTV news tonight everyone and you can be guaranteed yesterdays events will be top billing on the Sports news. And just to clarify to our southern brethern, the only time GAA gets top billing on these new bulletins is when there is a bit of controversy. Completely concur. In my opinion BBC NI report on all "controversial" GAA incidents with a great deal of smugness in their voices and expressions. They are narrow minded enough to associate this with politics. But then the southern media do likewise. Rarely have I seen a special report on BBC NI about the achievements of GAA in NI and rarely if ever are "controversial" soccer or rugby incidents reported so. Never do they report the violence at soccer or rugby with such fondness, and there's plenty of it!

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 16/02/2009 10:37:11    207891

milo
County: Tyrone
Posts: 141

No Milo, trust me they are worse than other supporters. You can go to games from a lot of counties year in and year out and see very little jeering, abuse, goading, gloating etc.. by supporters. It's common for it to happen with Tyrone but it seldom happens with others. Yes I'm afraid they are getting a reputation and from current form and recent form they definitely are deserving of the crown.

ColinWex (Wexford) - Posts: 901 - 16/02/2009 10:37:20    207892

rio bongo ;bbc ulster tv were not on the field yesterday.what do you want them to do ignore this, its a constant problem in tyrone.hopefully the gaa launch an inquiry, throwing missiles at the kerry keeper i suppose thats ok.

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 16/02/2009 10:38:32    207895

The Tyrone fans here have to be saluted for their good sportsmenship in praising the well-deserved Kerry victory. I don't remember the kerry boys being so fair minded last september! In fact it was quite the opposite. There were nothing but small minded gripes against the Tyrone win as was also the case by the sunday game panelists.

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 16/02/2009 10:39:29    207897

As a Southerner living in the north I wholeheartedly agree with Rio in his synopsis that GAA only recieves serious coverage on tv if there's controversey. In my opinion the BBC are particulary myopic in their outlook on GAA. UTV aren't as bad as at least Logan is a serious GAA fan (he does go overboard about Tyrone at times but we can all go on about our own counties!)

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 16/02/2009 10:46:27    207906

tomaoo7
County: Dublin
Posts: 1280

207895
rio bongo ;bbc ulster tv were not on the field yesterday.what do you want them to do ignore this, its a constant problem in tyrone.hopefully the gaa launch an inquiry, throwing missiles at the kerry keeper i suppose thats ok.

Dubs throwing stones at a Galway bus in 1983, is that OK too?

Flanders (Galway) - Posts: 604 - 16/02/2009 10:52:30    207909