Former Armagh star Oisin McConville doesn’t think Tyrone are comfortable playing with the tag of being reigning champions.

After overcoming Fermanagh with a below par performance in their Ulster SFC opener, the Red Hands fell flat against Derry last Sunday to relinquish their provincial crown and head into the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Speaking on BBC’s Sportsound Extra Time podcast, McConville aired his views on the poor form Tyrone have shown as of late.

“When you’re the champions you’re there to be got at and I think Tyrone don’t really feel that comfortable in that scenario,” said the 2002 All-Ireland winner.

“That’s proved even with the All-Irelands they’ve won before in 03, 05 and 08. They were a pale shadow of their former selves in the year following.

“So, I think it’s a mindset shift and I think there seemed to be stages this year where everybody said, ‘Well ok, that’s the wake-up call they needed.’ But look, if they needed a proper wake-up call they got it yesterday (Sunday).

“They have five weeks now and they will improve but as far as yesterday, it was a systems failure first and foremost as to how they went about trying to carve out a win against Derry.

“But I think the most important thing for me was just a lack of energy and they were bossed in their own ground and I think that won’t sit well with them.”

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