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McKenna Cup Final

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Due to be played next Sat evening at Celtic Park although I hear word that it may be moved to Armagh. I believe Tyrone are going for 7 in a row which, if true, is some going. Donegal are in building mode & i think Murph & some of the fringe players will be given an outing to rest others ahead of a must win league game against Kildare the following week. I hear that Frank McGlynn will get his first outing as well. Tyrone will probably stay true to form under Mickey Harte & go all out to win any trophy that is on offer & so will probably start as favourites although they are not firing on all cylinders yet. Must say I'm looking forward to it. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 12/02/2018 15:28:35 2076279 Link
I think it is vital that Murphy gets about half an hour in this game if he is to play any part in the Kidare game. He looked so lost on the pitch last Saturday. I mean this with respect. I think it is very important that Paddy Mc Brearty stay injury free for the rest of the league as it is normally this time of the year he gets injured. that may mean resting him on Saturday. Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 12/02/2018 19:18:51 2076367 Link
Replying To MuckrossHead: "Due to be played next Sat evening at Celtic Park although I hear word that it may be moved to Armagh. I believe Tyrone are going for 7 in a row which, if true, is some going. Donegal are in building mode & i think Murph & some of the fringe players will be given an outing to rest others ahead of a must win league game against Kildare the following week. I hear that Frank McGlynn will get his first outing as well. Tyrone will probably stay true to form under Mickey Harte & go all out to win any trophy that is on offer & so will probably start as favourites although they are not firing on all cylinders yet. Must say I'm looking forward to it." Yeah looking forward to it. I would say Tyrone will field a strong enough team but will hold a few back for the Monaghan away game the Saturday after. Colm Cav will prob get a run out to get him up to speed. Prob rotate the keepers as well. Didn't here about venue change but making sense with the Derry match been re-fixed. The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 12/02/2018 19:41:45 2076371 Link
Replying To The_Fridge: "Yeah looking forward to it. I would say Tyrone will field a strong enough team but will hold a few back for the Monaghan away game the Saturday after. Colm Cav will prob get a run out to get him up to speed. Prob rotate the keepers as well. Didn't here about venue change but making sense with the Derry match been re-fixed." In struggling to understand the change of venue if true. And why always to Armagh? Derry were originally down to play Mayo at a Celtic Park next Sunday in hurling anyway. The McKenna Cup final has been fixed for weeks knowing that there was a hurling game the following day. No problem so far.. Derry/Offaly gets postponed and re fixed for Sunday. Hurlers are basically told to get lost and moved to Banagher. But then all of a sudden it's a problem that the McKenna Cup game is being played the day before the re fixed Derry/Offaly game!! Is this purely down to the recent weather and possibility of the pitch cutting up or just complete contempt for the hurlers? Anyway, I hope it's not changed, a drive to Derry isn't as bad as Armagh. Tyrone could be without a good few players if UUJ win on Wednesday. What's the story with Mulgrew this year, is he injured? Colm Cavanagh coming back will be a massive boost to Tyrone. Hope Declan rests a few of our lads for the Kildare game but would be nice to get some silverware all the same. HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 12/02/2018 21:20:21 2076392 Link
The way the table looks at present makes the Kildare game very important so this is a perfect game to have the week before. Murphy looked very rusty last Saturday as will the others including Mc Glynn that have yet to come back. I'd rest Paddy this week and let Murphy stay inside with Jamie Brennan. I'd still expect Tyrone to beat us but the league is way more important than any Mc Kenna Cup Final. It could be the last time that some of the fringe players get a chance to stay on as I'd expect the panel to be trimmed as players return. Let's hope Declan stays true to his philosophy we have seen in the first three league games. The results will eventually come Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 12/02/2018 21:22:56 2076393 Link
Yaaaaaaawn cjx (Tyrone) - Posts: 270 - 12/02/2018 21:55:37 2076398 Link
Replying To HandballRef: "In struggling to understand the change of venue if true. And why always to Armagh? Derry were originally down to play Mayo at a Celtic Park next Sunday in hurling anyway. The McKenna Cup final has been fixed for weeks knowing that there was a hurling game the following day. No problem so far.. Derry/Offaly gets postponed and re fixed for Sunday. Hurlers are basically told to get lost and moved to Banagher. But then all of a sudden it's a problem that the McKenna Cup game is being played the day before the re fixed Derry/Offaly game!! Is this purely down to the recent weather and possibility of the pitch cutting up or just complete contempt for the hurlers? Anyway, I hope it's not changed, a drive to Derry isn't as bad as Armagh. Tyrone could be without a good few players if UUJ win on Wednesday. What's the story with Mulgrew this year, is he injured? Colm Cavanagh coming back will be a massive boost to Tyrone. Hope Declan rests a few of our lads for the Kildare game but would be nice to get some silverware all the same." Didn't realise that about the hurlers....certainly unfair. Probably the weather is a factor, could cut up badly if there's more rain. Tyrone have 5-6 on the UUJ team so they will be gone if they win. Not sure about Mulgrew to be honest, good player but must be injured. It is a right drive to Armagh for the Donegal ones to be fair, however I like the Athletic Grounds. Great facilities. The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 13/02/2018 13:45:10 2076526 Link
Replying To cjx: "Yaaaaaaawn" Your not a fan of the McKenna Cup? The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 13/02/2018 13:45:44 2076527 Link
Game has been refixed for Armagh on Sat evening at 6.00 p.m. which will mean that many Donegal supporters won't make it. Can't understand why this game couldn't have been played in Enniskillen. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 13/02/2018 14:11:40 2076538 Link
Replying To MuckrossHead: "Game has been refixed for Armagh on Sat evening at 6.00 p.m. which will mean that many Donegal supporters won't make it. Can't understand why this game couldn't have been played in Enniskillen." Pitch is a bog in enniskillen Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 13/02/2018 20:26:00 2076632 Link
It's not really that I am not a fan but Tyrone winning the McKenna 6-7-23 times and then stuck in a rigid system with players apparently scared to 'express' themselves is annoying to the point of serious boredom with these groundhog days in the winter mud. At least Lee Breenan seems to be a bit of a free spirit but still with focus on what matters to a full forward line. Hope he survives the mud wrestling and bog snorkelling at the weekend cjx (Tyrone) - Posts: 270 - 14/02/2018 10:37:58 2076709 Link
Replying To cjx: "It's not really that I am not a fan but Tyrone winning the McKenna 6-7-23 times and then stuck in a rigid system with players apparently scared to 'express' themselves is annoying to the point of serious boredom with these groundhog days in the winter mud. At least Lee Breenan seems to be a bit of a free spirit but still with focus on what matters to a full forward line. Hope he survives the mud wrestling and bog snorkelling at the weekend" Jaysus, I hope the pitch in Armagh is a bit better than that!! MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 14/02/2018 15:04:35 2076820 Link
I think I'm going to give the game a pass after the poor display against Kildare at the weekend. I agree that the league is much more important than McKenna Cup so I hope Mickey gives a run out to some of the other lads. Will be good to settle Colm Cav back in the team with big games against Monaghan and Donegal coming up which will decide if we stay in the division. OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 14/02/2018 15:20:24 2076828 Link
I don't really see the point in competitions like the McKenna cup, I think the players would be better having a rest mid winter, we should really be concentrating on staying in Div 1. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2756 - 14/02/2018 21:07:18 2076915 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "I don't really see the point in competitions like the McKenna cup, I think the players would be better having a rest mid winter, we should really be concentrating on staying in Div 1." For many players yes its probably not ideal, they could play the Sigerson then instead (exam permitting). However for fringe players its important to show what they can do because the league is very competitive. Also the McKenna cup finals have been very well attended over the last few years. The Tyrone vs Derry final a few years a lot very very competitive and hard hitting. The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 15/02/2018 10:28:05 2077004 Link
I've been at all the previous finals and some of them were great contests. A few against Derry stand out. I also am glad the venue has been switched. The grounds at Armagh are a great venue for the final. Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 15/02/2018 13:26:26 2077080 Link
Replying To OGarmaile: "I think I'm going to give the game a pass after the poor display against Kildare at the weekend. I agree that the league is much more important than McKenna Cup so I hope Mickey gives a run out to some of the other lads. Will be good to settle Colm Cav back in the team with big games against Monaghan and Donegal coming up which will decide if we stay in the division." More than likely the counties will field 'shadow' teams for this game. neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 15/02/2018 15:37:38 2077139 Link
Live video stream on BBC Sport NI website. You might need to use Hola to get access. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 17/02/2018 11:53:36 2077605 Link
Is the McKenna cup final on Armagh TV? Or BBC red button? The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 17/02/2018 12:05:13 2077611 Link
Replying To MuckrossHead: "Live video stream on BBC Sport NI website. You might need to use Hola to get access." Cheers!!!! Couldn't make the game today so might catch some of it. The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 17/02/2018 13:29:39 2077635 Link