A workmanlike performance from Tyrone on Saturday night in Newry. Far from spectacular but done what we needed to do, a win is a win, especially away from home in the League. At times in the first half we struggled with the way Down were running directly at us. Gallagher making his debut at wing forward was caught out badly a couple of times when his man got away from him. After the break we were much better, Conor Clarke made a big difference and took a couple of nice scores, and not to concede again after the Down goal and Joe McMahon's red card was impressive. A well deserved win to get us going. Tough game in Castlebar next

Two major disappointments. 1) the referee and the lack of consistency - Down fans will rightly be annoyed with some of his decisions against their side and 2) James McCartan along the sideline, clearly a man feeling the pressure

EnolaGay (Tyrone) - Posts: 653 - 04/02/2013 11:47:54    1328110

Not far off the mark there Enola. Newry is always difficult to get out of with a victory and Down will cause a few problems to teams there however I think that they will go down (no pun ntended). The referee was very poor however given his showing in the McKenna cup final I'm not sure we should have expected anything else. He is consistent in his inconsistency. The number of times he gives soft soft frees and then lets far more serious offences go unpunished is frustrating and generally contributes to a nasty undercurrent in games. Tyrone/Down games are normally good footballing games and generally without too much nastiness however there was a consistent cynicism on the part of both teams on Saturday night probably due to the fact that ref was unable to properly apply the rules.

Next weekend will be very tough. Mayo are very very difficult to beat at home with any sort of team and now that they can genuinely consider themsleves up there as serious contenders I would expect to leave Castlebar empty handed. Our home games are going to be very important and given that they are against the 3 top teams in the country there is nothing easy as you would expect given the quality in the division. Donegal might be beatable given that they will still surely be a bit short on match fitness and really depends in where Cork are at when they arrive. The final home game against Kerry will be a cracker given that I would expect the Dubs to beat them in the next game. They are struggling heavily without Gooch, O'Sullivan and Donaghy as would any team and will also be without Maher for 1-2 games. I think 6 points might be enough to keep you up and I have a notion that it will come down to Tyrone v Kerry to decide which of them follow Down into Division 2

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 04/02/2013 12:37:51    1328165

Of the weekend, best performers: the Dubs; worst Kerry. Everyone else, win or lose, somewhere in between. First game just a guage of where prep for the year ahead is. The late conveners, Donegal, Dubs and Mayo looked up to the pace, which I wasn't expecting. Now the cobwebs have been shaken, next week will be a better guide to form: I'd go for home wins Cork, Donegal and Mayo (just about), with the Dubs looking too good for Kerry based on what we saw this weekend.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 04/02/2013 12:40:53    1328167

omaghredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 3572

1328165
Not far off the mark there Enola. Newry is always difficult to get out of with a victory and Down will cause a few problems to teams there however I think that they will go down (no pun ntended). The referee was very poor however given his showing in the McKenna cup final I'm not sure we should have expected anything else. He is consistent in his inconsistency. The number of times he gives soft soft frees and then lets far more serious offences go unpunished is frustrating and generally contributes to a nasty undercurrent in games. Tyrone/Down games are normally good footballing games and generally without too much nastiness however there was a consistent cynicism on the part of both teams on Saturday night probably due to the fact that ref was unable to properly apply the rules.

Next weekend will be very tough. Mayo are very very difficult to beat at home with any sort of team and now that they can genuinely consider themsleves up there as serious contenders I would expect to leave Castlebar empty handed. Our home games are going to be very important and given that they are against the 3 top teams in the country there is nothing easy as you would expect given the quality in the division. Donegal might be beatable given that they will still surely be a bit short on match fitness and really depends in where Cork are at when they arrive. The final home game against Kerry will be a cracker given that I would expect the Dubs to beat them in the next game. They are struggling heavily without Gooch, O'Sullivan and Donaghy as would any team and will also be without Maher for 1-2 games. I think 6 points might be enough to keep you up and I have a notion that it will come down to Tyrone v Kerry to decide which of them follow Down into Division 2



Just to point out that Anthony Maher received two tellow cards, not a straight red so he will be available to Kerry. I expect Tyrone to give Mayo a good rattle. As poor as Kerry were yesterday, they still managed to break even with Mayo with regards to scores from play and possession.

I don't expect Kerry to make the Semis now, I'd go for Dublin, Mayo, Tyrone and Cork in that order.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 04/02/2013 14:10:57    1328279

Mayo..........well done and as 7/4 outsiders.....some performance to keep any team scoreless for 43 minutes let alone Kerry for the last 43 minutes.

kikfada (Louth) - Posts: 2091 - 04/02/2013 14:21:48    1328296

From the weekend, the Dubs look very good, Kildare best over a mediocre Donegal, Tyrone trudged against Down and Mayo in the second half played against a lack lustre Kerry side. Mayo derved the win easily, Kerry are going to be fodder in Division 1 and the summer will be short for those boys as well. Do not kid yourselves Kerry will take some serious rebuilding to be a major challenge over the next few years. Gooch aside, who else have they?

lostintime (USA) - Posts: 533 - 04/02/2013 14:50:50    1328325

O Sullivan, Galvin, Ó Sé x 2, O. Mahony, Sheehan

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 04/02/2013 15:09:22    1328342

have to say kildare number 18 fair haired guy was excellent again,he was very good in parnell park and stepped it up again last saturday would say he make a good player,thaught the ref was very bad on kildare the donegal full back was lucky to stay on the field for what he did in front the linesman. also deegans laois counterpart certainly has it in for us owl eddie let o neill push o brien in the back countless times and waved play on

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 04/02/2013 15:11:05    1328345

Some people seem shocked that Mayo beat Kerry but in fact it was no shock. Mayo have a good enough league record against Kerry and were at home. That Kerry team wont be near the same team in the championship, true we didn't have a full strength team either but before the game I felt we were a worth a win by around 3-4 points.

It is important to win your home games at once we stay up il be happy. I don't think another League final defeat would do us any favours.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11690 - 04/02/2013 15:14:01    1328352

Culann
County: Dublin
Posts: 1519

1328342
O Sullivan, Galvin, Ó Sé x 2, O. Mahony, Sheehan


Eoin Brosnan, Donnchadh Walsh, David Moran.......

Yea Lostintime, none of the players above would get on any other team in Ireland, just Kerry, we're some fools for playing them ....................

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 04/02/2013 15:18:29    1328356

ooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hope you werent drinking hahaha

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 04/02/2013 15:56:02    1328400

I expect Tyrone to give Mayo a good rattle. As poor as Kerry were yesterday, they still managed to break even with Mayo with regards to scores from play and possession.

Doesnt that just mean that kerry were doing a lot of fouling? As for breaking even, Im not convinced. Kerry were playing with the wind in the first half and still needed a goal to come in even at half time, and that was with 15 men. I assume you are not trying to claim that it was even in the 2nd half...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 04/02/2013 16:29:12    1328422

1328342
O Sullivan, Galvin, Ó Sé x 2, O. Mahony, Sheehan


Eoin Brosnan, Donnchadh Walsh, David Moran.......

Yea Lostintime, none of the players above would get on any other team in Ireland, just Kerry, we're some fools for playing them ....................

Someone was awake when reading my message I see, but seriously kerry are in serious trouble with not enough young legs for the long haul

lostintime (USA) - Posts: 533 - 04/02/2013 16:45:50    1328447

lostintime
County: USA
Posts: 464

1328447
1328342
O Sullivan, Galvin, Ó Sé x 2, O. Mahony, Sheehan


Eoin Brosnan, Donnchadh Walsh, David Moran.......

Yea Lostintime, none of the players above would get on any other team in Ireland, just Kerry, we're some fools for playing them ....................

Someone was awake when reading my message I see, but seriously kerry are in serious trouble with not enough young legs for the long haul


Agreed but we're aware of that down here, it will take time.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 04/02/2013 17:15:40    1328478

CKH-your honesty is a good attribute in this day & age. Having been around a few decades I have more sense than to ever take for granted or knock a Kerry side. The way the game is played now I think Kerry need to regroup and add to the county panel a few players who in the past may not have gotten that consideration. You could use a few fellas who are big, athletic, fierce fit and as fast as rabbits. These boys do not need to be 'samba' players, like Kerry are accustomed to producing but rather athletes who can counter the same dimension of a player that other counties have included in their present day squads. I have no doubt that once Eamon Fitz realizes that the combo of 11-12 pure Kerry footballers along with a few of these 'athletic modern day footballers' is the proper mix, we will all be once again dreading the prospect of facing the football mecca that is 'An riocht'.

lostintime (USA) - Posts: 533 - 04/02/2013 17:43:55    1328495

A good opening weekend not many shocks, all games at times reached top gear but none kept it up for too long. Kevin Mc Stay having his usual dig at the Dubs last night by stating Cork were not interested and the game did not come close to the intensity of the Kildare v Donegal, maybe Kevin that is simply because Dublin, Cork and Kerry are the only sides in Ireland that can play a kick passing game which means our players don't spend as much time as others rolling around ground or playing basketball.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 04/02/2013 18:02:04    1328513

Someone was awake when reading my message I see, but seriously kerry are in serious trouble with not enough young legs for the long haul

I dont think this is the case. The reality is this hiccup is necessary if these youngsters are going to be the best they can be. They need to be put into the battle and let find their feet. These lads will be the better for it.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 04/02/2013 18:05:15    1328515

Division 1 predictions round 2.

Cork v Kildare .... Cork
Donegal v Down .... Donegal
Kerry v Dublin .... Dublin
Mayo v Tyrone .... Mayo

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13655 - 04/02/2013 18:16:57    1328524

No doubt about your statement 'the Master' but do Kerry have enough young fellas to carry the weight once the present crop finally hang up the boots? That is the bigger question that needs addressing I think.

lostintime (USA) - Posts: 533 - 04/02/2013 18:20:47    1328532

Bluewave what are you going on about? So only Cork, Kerry and Dublin play a kick passing game?

Ah I get it now, you're wumming. Very good.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 04/02/2013 18:35:44    1328543