I was working on Sunday Night so I just got round to watching The Sunday Game's Highlights program last night.

As a Tyrone man, win, lose or draw I just have to watch our match highlights back and as much as it pains me to admit it Donegal are better than Tyrone just now and playing on a different level. As I've been posting on the Tyrone board all through the National League, we are a team in transition, our young players haven't won ONE Ulster Senior Championship yet the media and players talk about All-Ireland's as if they can be won by simply bringing in new players to fit the tried & tested system! The old saying of not buying into the hype comes to mind. In Tyrone at the minute there is severe pressure on our new team to try emulate their predecessors from the last decade, that in itself is a heavy burden so the last thing we need is every player who has a good game being over interviewed on their and the teams aspirations. These boys need time to find their feet at Senior Inter County Level, people speak of us going far in the Qualifiers but that all depends on who we draw. We just don't have that aura about us anymore, that comes from wining the big games, grinding out results when not playing to your full potential and I suppose looking at it from the provincial championship angle, winning these final's leads to success breeding success.

Some Big Names await us now in the Qualifiers only time will tell if we can make an impact via that route again, maybe an experienced player like Owen Mulligan coming back into the panel might help some of our younger players settle, a good option off the bench that I feel we where badly missing on Sunday

RiceysBrother (Tyrone) - Posts: 125 - 28/05/2013 17:10:29    1393780

RiceysBrother
County: Tyrone
Posts: 110

Tyrone are still a top 4-6 team, and will be a cut above most sides they will face in the Qualifiers.

They have a fairly fresh squad, and these younger guys have been winners at underage level and have seen their hero's lift 3 x All Ireland's in the previous decade. They will all have a belief they can win an All Ireland because of this, but they will still need time to settle at senior level and find their own leaders.

They lost to a formidable Donegal side, who are the reigning Ulster Champions and All Ireland Champions. These Donegal fella's took the hard route to winning Sam last season, having to beat Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Cork and Mayo on the way. All division 1 level/standard teams, and all those games were tough and extremely tight games. I refer to this, as Donegal have clearly experienced plenty of tight games and came out the right side of them.

This season we have seen the long overdue rebuilding process in Tyrone show fruit. Some men will hit the ground running, others will need time to find their place. Championship games will help bring them leaps & bounds, they should now re-group and look at making a serious run through the qualifiers.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 28/05/2013 17:46:34    1393829

Look Tyrone are as far away now as they were last year, big names await them and more to come.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/05/2013 20:08:16    1393959

What big names in qualifiers???

The loser of Cork/Kerry doesn't come in til the last round so there's hardly anyone to unduly worry Tyrone until that draw. The other provincial losers will be handled fairly easily by the Red Hands.

Maybe they could be unlucky if Kildare take Dublin outta Leinster and draw ourselves.

Tyrone will almost certainly be the 1/4 finals unless they get very unlucky with the draw and other results. Even then they have quality to make it through also.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 29/05/2013 10:41:03    1394163

The qualifiers will definitely suit Tyrone. There isnt a team out there at the moment who will match them in the back door. I think that should they take their chances, particularly goal chances, they will not be touched and will end up in Croke part in August for certain. I would like to see Armagh do well in the qualifiers too, but they have not got what it takes methinks. It would be great for Mickey Harte to get another run at kerry this year, I am a big fan of his, and think there is a huge amount of football left in this tyrone team this year.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3853 - 29/05/2013 10:50:00    1394168

Tyrone will waltz through the qualifers. Donegalman why would you like M.Harte to get another crack at Kerry. We are fed up at facing each other at this stage. We would like another go at Donegal later in the year.

kerry74 (Kerry) - Posts: 1354 - 29/05/2013 12:58:34    1394281

I would like to see Tyrone and Kerry play again, for the simple reason that it is a rivalry that is unmatched. Including ourselves v Tyrone, and Dublin v Kerry, even Cork v Kerry. Indeed, Donegal v Kerry would b a great game too, but it may not happen this year. I would actually love to meet Tyrone again this year as it would mean that we both would b in the semis at the very least!

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3853 - 29/05/2013 13:12:22    1394301

Aye Donegal man, what is the fascination with Tyrone getting a crack at Kerry? I think that how far they go will depend on how they regroup as a unit and realign. The manner of how Donegal physically blew them away during the secind half will have damaged their belief in how strong they are and how they recover and build mentally during the qualifiers will be key from here.

Hopefully (Offaly) - Posts: 143 - 29/05/2013 13:13:34    1394304

Yeah personally I'm not bothered about the Kerry/Tyrone thing anymore, the media talk it up but Tyrone's main concern is obviously building a new team.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 29/05/2013 13:35:31    1394330

If Tyrone want to bulk up to compete with the physical size of Donegal it will take them a few years and so be it. Some players will bulk up quicker than others. Mc Hugh is still relatively light compared to the other lads but Ross Wherrity is bulking up and has improved on this substantially in the past few years. Most of the Tyrone lads are physically strong but seem to need some work on their core fitness as they do seem to be easily knocked off a ball. With the new training centre in Garvaghy I'm sure Tyrone will be looking at all aspects of the modern GAA player to make sure they are turning out as good as whats out there.
I still think this Tyrone team will benefit from a good run in the qualifiers, a young team needs confidence and a few wins could see them full of it coming into the quarters. Take them lightly at your peril!!
One think struck me about Donegal as they passed me in the parade on Sunday, it seems every one of them lads has got bigger since last year!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 29/05/2013 14:09:49    1394369

Hopefully
County: Offaly
Posts: 116

1394304
Aye Donegal man, what is the fascination with Tyrone getting a crack at Kerry? I think that how far they go will depend on how they regroup as a unit and realign. The manner of how Donegal physically blew them away during the secind half will have damaged their belief in how strong they are and how they recover and build mentally during the qualifiers will be key from here.

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that they will regroup very quickly. They had a bit of an off day, being totally honest, and i think that there are Tyrone players capable of much more. Do u think that they will miss as many frees the next day out? I bet all they need is 2 good wins in the back door, and then a good hard game to straighten them out for croke park. Realistically there are not too many teams out there that are capable of beating them. Their mid field cleaned us out for much if not all of the game. It was the breaking ball that we seemed to get. A donegal team of yesteryear would have been beaten by 5 odd points the last day, and shot about 12 wides too. So I will stick my neck out and say that Tyrone will be around towords the end of the summer at the very least.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3853 - 29/05/2013 14:21:48    1394383

28/05/2013 17:10:29
RiceysBrother
County: Tyrone
Posts: 110

1393780

...we are a team in transition, our young players haven't won ONE Ulster Senior Championship yet the media and players talk about All-Ireland's as if they can be won by simply bringing in new players to fit the tried & tested system! The old saying of not buying into the hype comes to mind. In Tyrone at the minute there is severe pressure on our new team to try emulate their predecessors from the last decade, that in itself is a heavy burden so the last thing we need is every player who has a good game being over interviewed on their and the teams aspirations. These boys need time to find their feet at Senior Inter County Level, people speak of us going far in the Qualifiers but that all depends on who we draw...

Had the privilege of attending my first match in Craobh Ulaidh on Sunday, and it was a hugely enjoyable occasion with a great atmosphere.
The sentence in bold, to me, is the shrewdest rb. I still think too much is expected of Tír Eoghain- there are some fine young players there, but O Neill and Cavanagh are in another class, and there will be a significant difference in their absence. Yes, there is young talent, but the 1997-98 minors and 2000-2001 U21s were the find of a generation, one of the most gifted group of footballers out of any county in the history of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Just look at the six forwards that played in 2005- Dooher, McGuigan, Mellon, Mulligan (in one of his good phases), O Neill, and PTG. And the half back line was peerless- Jordan was my Laoch an Chluiche that day, an injustice that he didn't get it. It's rather unrealistic, I think, to assume the current (albeit talented) crop will attain those lofty heights. A bit like Irish rugby at the moment- but obviously without the nauseatingly smug self-regard.

That said, it is difficult to see anyone in the qualifiers besting them, barring a spate of injuries, an away draw, a soft wet pitch and a biased referee. They'll be in the quarter finals barring a draw against Corcaigh, should they lose to us (apologies to An Clár/Port Láirge) in round 4- I didn't say ourselves, cos I certainly would not be putting money on us winning! This team will be regular guests on qf and sf day, but I think they may need another element to become true AI contenders.

P.S. Please don't interpret this as a Ciarraí anti-Tír Eoghain thing- a load of my in laws are Killyman-based so I've a soft spot; the terms 'Spillane' and 'Ciarraí people', when it comes to matters of opinion on football, are as interchangeable as 'Tír Eoghain' and 'Willie McCrea'.

an tseabhac (Kerry) - Posts: 441 - 29/05/2013 14:35:38    1394409

An Tseabhac, that was an excellent and well-balanced post. Hard to disagree with any of it.

As others have said, barring an away draw to the losers of the Munster final or the Dublin/Kildare semi, Tyrone should reach the quarter finals. At the start of the year, most Tyrone fans would have felt that an AI quarter final and retention of division 1 status would be a fair enough expectation. I'd like to think that the qualifiers will be an opportunity for some of the younger lads to get more game time, which could only be of benefit. Tyrone are a better side this year than last year, but we are still a work in progress.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 29/05/2013 15:26:36    1394467

Tyrone are second only to Kerry with regards to the back door and if Tyrone have a bit of luck then 4 championship games inside a month would certainly bring the team on. Its hard at the moment to see Tyrone going any further than the quarter-finals.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 29/05/2013 19:36:09    1394724

Tyrone will waltz through the qualifiers. The top five teams in the country are Mayo, Donegal, Dublin, Kerry and Cork and only Kerry or Cork are going to be in the last draw for the qualifiers. Tyrone would have a fair chance against any of the top five and can quite comfortably beat any of the rest.

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 29/05/2013 20:16:43    1394755

What is it about tyrone hope one more day will do them and that will keep them quiet for another year . Give us a bit of peace

topdownfan (Down) - Posts: 555 - 29/05/2013 21:43:53    1394824

no fear of the unknown when it comes to the back door for the self acclaimed god-given talented county of Tyrone, in the words of Michael Lyster 'Tyrone- the back door specialists'

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 29/05/2013 21:54:04    1394832

Tyrone were hassled out of the game by a far stronger Donegal team who had their heads right on the day (fair play to Jim), some serious conditioning work has been done by Donegal. Missing frees can happen, of more concern to me is that Tyrone has no defence, modern defending depends on workrate, apart from a once-off return to defensive form against Dublin in the league final, Tyrone hasn't had a defence worthy of the name in the last 4 years. Funny how pundits still go on about Tyrone's "blanket defence" as if we still had one.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 30/05/2013 08:28:18    1394850

Why the animosity from Down posters against Tyrone?

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 30/05/2013 08:42:53    1394853

Are down people really that blind they cant see how bad their county are? They are in a shocking state and really shouldn't be commenting on anything. I hope to god we get you in the qualifiers not that it will add any value to our growing team because i strongly suspect the end begins sunday when this team of crocks really falls apart.

We wont do anything in the qualifiers and if get an away draw we could be out. We need 2 more forwards who can win the ball and put it over the bar, until that happens we will win nothing!

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 30/05/2013 09:03:07    1394859