Carlin finally makes it to the summit

Dermot Carlin is hoping he has finally nailed down a place in the Tyrone team, after almost a decade of trying.

Carlin turned 28 just a few weeks ago, but is already in his 10th season with the Tyrone squad.

He has never been able to establish himself as a regular, but having played the full 70 minutes in both championship games this season, fortune has turned in his favour.

“I’m one of the older hands now, but I still never nailed a starting position down before,” said Carlin.

“Down through the years, we had Davy (Harte), Philly (Jordan) and Conor (Gormley) across the half-back line. But now, when some of those guys aren’t there, there’s a chance to make a name for yourself. It’s a long time to be playing, but I’m still enjoying it and I love playing football.’’

Roscommon are plotting another Ulster ambush at Hyde Park, where they brought Armagh’s season, and the tenure of manager Paddy O’Rourke, to a shuddering end, and Carlin insists Tyrone need to be wary if they are to avoid another upset.

“They will be up for it after the way they played against Armagh. And they will be thinking they can do the same to us.”

Following a tense, tactical battle against Donegal in the Ulster Championship, Saturday’s Hyde Park encounter will almost certainly provide Tyrone with an opportunity to express themselves in a less defensive environment.

“If we go toe to toe, like we did against Armagh, it’s exciting football. We might be going down that route again, we don’t know what Mickey [Harte] will decide.

“But I’d say we’ll be able to play a bit more football against Roscommon, and if we do that, it will be a better, more open game.

“The way Mickey sets it up, he will take a look at them and adjust to suit. But they definitely have good forwards. Donie Shine scored a lot against Armagh, and we can’t give away any frees with the likes of him on the pitch.”

Tyrone created three clear-cut goal chances against Donegal, but failed to take any. This weekend, they will look to be more clinical.

“The way they set up is very defensive and it was hard getting through them.

“There was space on the wings, but we just didn’t utilise it as well as we could have,” said Carlin.

“Then we had a couple of goal chances there too. Any other day, Stevie (O’Neill) would have put that in the net, or if he had looked up, Conor Gormley was coming through. It we had got a goal at that stage and got in front of them, it would have made Donegal chase us.

“We weren’t that far away.’’