For forwards, this was football at its toughest
Both Tyrone and Donegal concentrated on defence as a priority, and sadly for neutral spectators at the ground or watching on television, it meant there was little opportunities for the likes of Michael Murphy, Stephen O’Neill and Peter Harte to display their full ware of attacking talents.
Those involved with county teams become defensive when their tactics and strategies are criticised. But maybe it is because people on the outside looking in don’t realise how difficult the game can be.
Take Saturday from a forward’s point of view. Aside from the challenge of winning your own ball and trying to round your opponent, you then had one or more opponents lining up to tackle you. Now add in some difficult weather conditions and for an attacker this was gaelic football at its most difficult.
Rather than being thrilled by some great skill to engineer a score, this was a game where you would admire the patience shown in the buildup, the creation of an opening, and the execution of the score under pressure.
Donegal were hugely impressive. Their conditioning has improved dramatically and it was also notable that the loss of Neil McGee in the opening minutes with a hamstring injury did little to upset their composure.
What really surprised me was Tyrone’s lack of an intercounty standard free-taker and the number of different players called upon for placed balls.
Joe McMahon kicked two great frees and Conor Gormley got a consolation 45 with time up, but Peter Harte missed a central-wind assisted 45, Martin Penrose missed another wind-assisted effort, Stephen O’Neill also opted for a quick free from around the 45 which Owen Mulligan spilled. Then in the second-half Joe McMahon missed a free and Sean O’Neill missed another ‘45.
In contrast Donegal scored 5/5 of their scoreable free-kicks.
After a cagey first-half, Donegal turned up the heat on Tyrone after the break with goalkeeper Durcan successfully opting for more short kick-outs. The game was won in the period from the 37th to the 63rd minutes. After Joe McMahon extended Tyrone’s half-time lead to 0-7 to 0-5, Donegal outscored their opponents by seven points to one. Strong running from midfield yielded two points for Rory Kavanagh and one from Ryan Bradley to give Donegal the lead and terrific defending in their half-back line turned over four Tyrone attacks.
An intercepted Paschal McConnell kick-out lead to Karl Lacey putting three between them which looked to have broken Tyrone’s resolve but in fairness to Mickey Harte’s side they didn’t go out with a whimper and never gave up.
I’m not sure I agree with those who say Donegal are more positive this year. Yes they scored 1-16 beating Cavan and 2-13 beating Derry, but they were back to 0-12 and no goal chances created against a team like Tyrone who they have a little more fear of.
Down won’t frighten them either but when faced with Dublin, Cork or Kerry in Croke Park, I would not be surprised if they revert to last year’s formation.
A varied approach with an odd early, long ball into Michael Murphy would surely pay some dividends. Assuming they account for Down in the final they will have won a very convincing Ulster title and you have to say both the team and a number of their players like Frank McGlynn, Ryan Bradley, Mark McHugh, David Walsh and Paddy McBrearty have improved since last year.
Tyrone could be contenders if they could get their best team on the field but that won’t happen this year. Young Conor Clarke at full-back impressed both in his defensive duties and going forward. Their forward line is no longer frightening and being turned over in attack is un-Tyrone like, as was the sight of them running out of ideas and lobbing in a few hopeful long balls near the end.
First on the list this week for Mickey Harte is to find a reliable free-taker. The other issues facing him will take a lot longer to resolve.
