Tyrone braced for retirements

SEÁN CAVANAGH expects a number of retirements from the Tyrone panel before the end of the year.

“There’s no doubt and I know for sure a few guys have said that this is their last year,” he said.

“There is going to be a slight change of the guard.

“There are a lot of good young players sitting on that bench itching to get a chance to play football.

“I don’t think this is the end of Tyrone. As hard as it is to take, there still is the basis of a good team there.”

Describing Dublin as the best from the county they’ve played against, Cavanagh didn’t believe a sweeper system would have won the game for Tyrone.

Along with the other outfield players, the Moy man took the blame for the pressure put on the full-back line.

“Us guys out the field hung out Conor (Gormley) and Joe (McMahon). Whenever you have two on two and 50 yards of space it’s always going to be difficult and when you have forwards the likes of the Brogans and your lad (Diarmuid) Connolly that can take on their men and beat them it’s always going to be difficult. I don’t think a sweeper would have made a difference. They were by far a better side.”