Finding a ‘Plan B’ will be crucial to Tyrone’s progress
Anyone who attended The Irish News GAA Talk Show at the Market Theatre in Armagh will readily testify that Donegal manager Jim McGuinness stole the show.
Right from the start, the Donegal manager had the audience hanging on his every word. Knowledgeable, passionate, analytical, obsessed with the tiniest of details, McGuinness provided a stunning insight into the mind of the modern manager.
McGuinness made some fascinating observations. His admiration for the current Kerry team was particularly revealing.
Judging from his remarks, it was abundantly obvious that McGuinness wouldn’t agree with the criticism that has been directed at Jack O’Connor recently.
While discussing possible contenders for the All-Ireland title, McGuinness stated candidly that Kerry “were the best team at thinking on the pitch,” that he has yet to encounter.
Coaches and managers will instantly recognise that this is the perhaps the biggest compliment that can be bestowed on them by one of their peers.
Getting players to execute and adapt a gameplan without receiving any instruction from the sideline is the Holy Grail of all first class managers.
When Donegal travelled to Killarney in March, they got whipped by 11 points. Kerry won by 2-16 to 1-8. Bear in mind that in Donegal’s previous outing, they had beaten Cork. Not only did they defeat the Rebels, they smothered them, restricting the league champions to an embarrassing 0-6.
However, McGuinness discovered that his meticulously prepared tactics didn’t have quite the same effect against Kerry. Confronted with Donegal’s defensive system, McGuinness noted how the Kerry players worked out how to unlock it for themselves.
There was no roaring and shouting from Jack on the sidelines. Talented, clever, and steeped in years of experience, the Kerry players studied the puzzle and came up with the solution on their own.
No other team has dismantled Donegal in this manner. Not Cork. Not Tyrone. Not Kildare. Not even All-Ireland champions, Dublin.
Evidently, McGuinness believes Kerry are the benchmark.
The country is currently awash with Stepford football teams. They are formulaic and methodical. There are no surprises. It is football by numbers.
Although well organised, the problem for these teams is that they are entirely predictable, and it is easy for opposing managers to second guess what they plan to do.
The big worry for Tyrone is that they also appear to fit this description. Mickey Harte has developed a new team and they have been drilled like soldiers to play the game in a certain way. There are no secrets about what Tyrone are doing. They defend with 13 men. Peter Harte, the not-so-secret weapon, launches attacks through the centre of the pitch.
A glance at Tyrone’s record this year suggests that the Red Hands are back in business, and ready to compete against the best teams in the country.
After all, prior to their league final defeat to Kildare, they’d won 12 games in succession. But a closer examination of Tyrone’s performances indicates that they have reason to be concerned.
Pitted against lesser opponents in Division Two, an incredibly fit Tyrone side often blitzed the opposition in the first half.
Their games against Westmeath and Monaghan were prime examples. When Westmeath came to Omagh, they didn’t know what had hit them. After 23 minutes, Tyrone led 0-5 to 0-0. Yet, once Westmeath recovered from the initial shock, they were able to cope with Tyrone after the break. Tyrone only won the second half by two points, 1-5 to 0-6.
A similar scenario took place in the last match against Monaghan. The Farney men also trailed by seven at the break. But after Eamon McEneaney reshuffled his deck, Tyrone looked fairly ordinary. During the 35 minutes of normal time in the second half, Tyrone edged Monaghan 0-5 to 0-4.
Those performances set alarm bells ringing. It was clear the first team that could cope with Tyrone’s fitness, and was prepared for Peter Harte’s runs through the centre, would give them their fill of it. Kildare was that team. In the league final in Croke Park, the Lilywhites had the pace, and more importantly, the power to check Tyrone’s running game. When challenged by a side that was tactically and physically ready for them, it was notable that Tyrone soon ran out of ideas.
Unable to impose their game on Kildare, Tyrone lacked the ingenuity and individual brilliance that was required to break down their opponents.
On Sunday, Armagh will know exactly what Tyrone want to do.
Can Tyrone perform against a side that is waiting for them? And if they can’t overrun Armagh, can they improvise? Can Tyrone’s footballers think for themselves, or do they still need Mickey Harte to do that for them? Sunday’s game in Armagh will provide learned observers like Jim McGuinness with a very strong indication of how far Tyrone are capable of progressing in this year’s Championship.
* paddy.heaney@irishnews.com
