Tyrone v Monaghan - AI Qtr Final Preview

Gormley with a punch to the head there, should see the line before the second half throws in.

My initial reaction: Poor game from the ref (fussy, inconsistent, errors), great game Sean Cavanagh. I was happy to see Tyrone win.

Key talking points:
Martin Penrose was foolish. However I don't think it was a sending off. However if Penrose walked, surely Gormely should have too.

Sean Cavanagh has a right to foul. I don't agree that he isn't a man (Brolly) as a result of the foul.

Tyrone have done very well to reach the last four and who would argue against them going all the way. They have shown great resilience and courage.

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All you need to make your mind up about the Sean Cavanagh incident.

I was very pleased with yesterday's result. it was Tyrone's 5th game in 6 weeks and, when we went a man down in tough conditions, I feared that we may begin to wilt. However,although we lost our shape and the game got scrappy, the players dug very deep and you could see the delight at the final whistle. I understand that there was a night off to celebrate afterwards, and I'd imagine that this was a carrot dangled in front of them 6 weeks ago. Tyrone have battled through a string of decent sides, winning the last 4 matches by 2 points. That shows character and it shows that morale is high.

Aside from the 'controversy', most people will agree that the better side won. As they did against Meath and Kildare, Tyrone controlled long periods of the game, outscoring Monaghan 7-1 afterinitially falling 5-2 behind. Approaching half-time, we led by 9-6 as Peter Harte came through the middle. He lost the ball and Monaghan went down the field and scored instead. That 2 point swing kept the Farney men in a game that was starting to go away from them, and ensured that we would have to struggle from there on.

In the 2nd half, Tyrone lost their shape. Mattie Donnelly was struggling with flu, and was pushed into FF because he hadn't the energy to run. He was soon joined by Aidan Cassidy, but he isn't mobile enough to play there. We were also badly caught out on the line when McNeice got injured. Tyrone played with 13 men for 7 minutes, as McNeice was treated on the sideline - I can only assume that Mickey et al weren't aware of this, as it took forever to replace him. It was obviously a serious injury, and that delay could have been crucial. Still, we battled well, and the likes of Peter Harte, Carlin, McGinley and a few others began to stand up. For a lad who hasn't kicked a ball for the county in 14 months due to injuries, Ronan McNabb had a positive impact, and was no sooner on the field than he was directing defensive duties. He could well replace Penrose in the semi final.

Both sendings off were correct. In the first case, Penrose and Gormley were stupid for getting invovled with Dessie Mone, a man who can rival either of them in the antagonistic stakes. Penrose will be a loss for the semi, but Gormley would be a massive loss if anything came of it, not least because of Joe mcMahon's injury departure, and his brother's lack of availability. Kieran Hughes also deserved to go for his 2nd yellow. He was very fired up from the start, and should have been calmed down.

As regards Sean Cavanagh's foul, the correct action was taken. There is no 'last man' rule in gaelic football. The referee doesn't get to make up the rules to fit what he deems to be the moment. It was a free kick and yellow card. I don't believe that there is any side that don't have players who would do the same. Ask Donegal about their league game in Cork earlier this year, and the multiple offences that were inflicted on gallagher and Murphy as they chased a late goal. All teams do it. If you want to stop it, change the penalties.

There were plenty of positives for Tyrone, the main one being our ability to continually win tight games. Also, we are very comfortable on the ball, and I don't think there is a side in Ireland who are as assured when taking the ball out of defence. in terms of shape and organisational discipline, we are excellent. Some of our new lads continue to get better, and Peter Harte showed a couple of flashes yesterday to suggest that he may be coming back to a bit of form. In Sean Cavanagh, we have one of the top 2-3 footballers in ireland.

I do, however, have concerns, mainly at the extreme ends of the field. Stevie O'Neill had another bad day, and Darren McCurry lost the ball on the few occasions he actually won it. O'Neill was better when he came out the field, but he doesn't have the legs to act as playmaker for very long. We still lack real pace in the fullback line, hence the need for a sweeper. Suspensions and injuries will further reduce our already meagre resources, and anything wins from here on in must be viewed as overachievement.

As for Monaghan, they've had a great year. Promotion to division 2 and an Ulster title is a very good return. I know that Patk is optimistic for the future, but I wouldn't be quite so bullish. They have a lot of decent young players, but several others are getting on. We've already seen the best of key men like Finlay, Lennon, Clerkin, Corey and Freeman, while Darren Hughes and Mone aren't likely to get any better than they are now. Monaghan can continue to be competitive, but I don't envisage them improving beyond their current level over the next couple of years. In fact, they'll do well to remain as competitive as they are currently.

Hi guys,

Tactical analysis of Tyrone's win over Monaghan up now
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Emmet

Thomas Clarke wrote:I was very pleased with yesterday's result .

I'd say you were, a win is a win and all that. I have no axe to grind, saw it in snatches, to be truthful, but it didn't do anything for the image of Tyrone football. Aside, well aside, from the Cavanagh incident, which was within the rules, the petulance of Penrose throughout left a lot to be desired.

A long-time servant: ie. Conor Gormley, isn't doing himself any favours either, whether "jossling" at the break or other activities. Experience can't be bought, it's do or die and all that, but the intrepid Conor is living on 2 plateaus, the edge and a banana skin.

From a Tyrone perspective, young Clarke is wasted at full-back, as exemplified yesterday. Lots of football in the lad if he could be deterred from shooting. Problems in the f/b line and weakness in what's now referred to as the old-style f/f line.

Today's decimation of Donegal is indicative of the future: Flash systems will work for a while. Genuine talent, quick ball movement by foot and the ability to break the tackle, thereby creating space/overlaps/scoring chances will once again prevail.

TC, I should clarify what I mean by being optimistic, I don't mean that we'll be winning a string of Ulsters or contesting All-Irelands every year! I just think we can be confident in our ability in Ulster going forward. I did say previously that I'd simply be more optimistic than I was over the last couple of years, naturally enough after two straight relegations and getting hammered in the qualifiers by Offaly and Laois. 

I talked before about the older players before that you mention there, though I think it might be a bit early to say Hughes won't improve given he's only about 25. Even if he doesn't he's playing at a high level already. I maintain Mone and Corey have a few good years in them yet, while Freeman and Dick are only used as impact subs at this stage. We aren't nearly as reliant on Finlay as we were, although obviously we are a better team with him playing well and I'd agree we've probably seen his best. The biggest issue for me in the near future, and I touched on this briefly before, is midfield. Lennon most likely doesn't have many years left in him as a starter at the top level, given he's about 32 and has had his injury problems. There is a real dearth of midfield talent in the county, it's probably part of the reason why our midfield duo of Lennon/Clerkin went uncontested for so long. No harm to Dick, he's been a hard grafter and loyal servant for Monaghan for well over a decade, but Hughes moving in there this year was an immediate upgrade. Even in our successful minor team of this year, midfield is the weak area, often getting cleaned out of it in there and relying on our forwards to bail us out. There are a few midfield options around but none look to me to be up to scratch if we want to be contesting championships. Hopefully some young buck can develop and come from nowhere in the next couple of years, or we can unearth some hidden gem, but I have my doubts. 

Elsewhere we have some promising young players. In goal Beggan has had a fine debut season, not conceding a goal all championship, kickouts are generally very good and has been excellent under the high ball. Wylie has made himself at home at full-back, having excellent games on McFadden and O'Neill. Walshe goes from strength to strength. The younger Hughes has come on well this year, but his temperament came into question yesterday with two silly bookings that really didn't help our cause. He is a good target man with a great pair of hands and can take a score, but they need to decide if his best position is on the square or in a deeper role, as he is used in both at times. McGuinness continues to improve up front, but he needs to nail down a starting spot. We really need another regular scoring option alongside McManus and he has the potential for that. Young Jack McCarron came on late yesterday(son of All-Star Ray), and he is another who has come on well the last couple of years and is ready to stake his claim. We have an excellent batch of minor forwards coming through aswell but we'll probably not see them too soon. Outside of the midfield issue, another scoring forward is what's really needed.

So as I say the midfield would be the biggest concern to me in terms of the future. Of course not all of those young players will deliver on their promise, but it's a pity we don't have a young midfield prospect coming on in the same vein.