Very interesting that after the Fermanagh defeat a lot of Monaghan men on here were calling for MOR's head. Same as last year, the majority wanted him gone. Some should hold theie water on here.
Should be a good game. Again,lets not kid ourselves, it will be mirror image. 13 men behind the ball, 2 sweepers, I argued the this point with Donegal ones thinking they play some kind of crazy attacking football. That's what will happen.
Can't wait!!!!

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2093 - 06/08/2018 20:54:12    2130171

If life was fair it would be a Galway V Monaghan final. Those other two counties have had enough recent success especially one in particular. Monaghan have never won Sam, Tyrone have three.....if life was fair the farney county should be allowed to play in the final, unfortunately life is unfair. Tyrone will set out to break Monaghan hearts, crush their dreams and add to their trophy cabinet. Harte doesnt care that Monaghan have never won sam, he doesnt care that form predicts a third Monaghan win over Tyrone this year, Croke Park and its wide open spaces doesnt care about the heavy legs of the Monaghan back line. We'd all like to see the fairy tale and a happy ending.....but reality will shatter that in a less than a weeks time. Dublin versus Tyrone , last week in Sept.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 06/08/2018 21:05:23    2130175

You'd have to question some of the comments on here. This is a football match ... not a school yard slagging match.

Thoughts are that it's 50:50 on Sunday. Obviously we see through blue / red tinted glasses .... and make exaggerated arguments to back that up but both teams are hitting form. No question. And they have the measure of each other on their day. Tyrone were defo carrying a few injuries in May ... Cavanagh & Brennan in particular so that's a factor. Having said that Mon won pulling up in Omagh .... late deflected goal make it look closer. And Mon are defo playing their best football in 10 years .... no weak links in starting 15 (neither do Tyrone). Incredible when you consider the Ulster semi.

Don't think the two QFs in 13 & 15 will count. Different teams now. Tyrone have lost the last 5 semis I believe .... shouldn't be a factor either.

Both will be convinced they are going to win. Will make for an intriguing game. It's huge for Mon to make a semi finally and give themselves a crack at a final. But it's plainly obvious that they are in no way satisfied with a semi. Malones interview confirmed that.

Would be stunned if Galway upset Dublin. Can't see Mon or Tyrone beating them either. But ... if Galway did win ..... Sunday's game would go up a notch or 10!

Would be something else to make it to Sept 2nd. Preparing for both eventualities. Could come down to an injury time kick. Hopefully the kicker is wearing the blue tinted glasses :)

Mon79 (Monaghan) - Posts: 81 - 06/08/2018 21:09:07    2130178

Mon79 (Monaghan) - Posts: 81 - 06/08/2018 21:18:02    2130184

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2368 - 06/08/2018 21:22:24    2130187

MuineachanAbu (Monaghan) - Posts: 660 - 06/08/2018 21:32:51    2130192

greysoil (Monaghan) - Posts: 965 - 06/08/2018 21:36:26    2130195

monaghan in bonus territory now it took us 5 years to get over a q final could take us another 5 years to get to a final tyrone are clear favourites fine team with fine modest supporters and a manager that is the best in the country tyrone dublin final with tyrone to win by 3 points

prideof85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 851 - 06/08/2018 22:00:08    2130214

To be perfectly honest I think Tiernan Mc Cann is an excellent footballer that would make most teams in this country. I think we should all be looking forward to a great day out in Croke Park where we are all proud to be ulster. "" Ulster says No to 4 in a row. May the best team win. Its going to be a hard fought match and each team will do whatever they can to get over the line. At the end of day that's what it's all about. Sport

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 906 - 06/08/2018 22:06:18    2130219

Do the real Tyrone supporters expect Lee Brennan to start on Sunday? where was he against Dublin, did he even come on. I do not believe that he was part of some grand masterplan to come on and finish out the game yesterday, I think it was more a desperate final throw of the dice. Donegal had them on the rack, but stopped playing for some reason, they became ponderous and ran [without conviction] into contact, turning over ball . Right into Tyrone's hands.
Sean Cavanagh said earlier in the season that skilful forwards were being held back by the current system (paraphrasing here), did he mean Brennan and Loughran for example? I get the feeling Harte does not like Brennan. He would be starting for any other county if they had him.
Donegal's lacklustre performance in the final 20 was a huge factor in the result yesterday, as of course was Tyrone upping the ante, both seemed to happen simultaneously. Would it have mattered which 15 Tyrone had started. I don't expect us to be slowing down with 20 to go, this is our final we are looking no further than Sunday, and we have a few good subs to bring in too. Will bringing on Brennan and Loughran with 15 or 20 to go be enough on Sunday, not to mention the final if Tyrone make it. Winning this semi-final is expected in Tyrone. 6/4 will do me

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1066 - 06/08/2018 22:20:56    2130228

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 906 - 06/08/2018 22:37:54    2130244

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3170 - 06/08/2018 22:40:27    2130245

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2093 - 06/08/2018 23:24:18    2130261

Monaghan have a good bit of belief about them these days and aren't short on confidence which is a good thing. Tyrone's first half performance against Donegal was poor but they were superb in the second and looked very strong at the end. I would say Mickey is working on a plan to stop McManus because he could do real damage in the open spaces of Croker. On current form it's 50/50 but maybe Tyrone's bench and fitness will swing it their way but who knows?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 06/08/2018 23:37:40    2130264

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 06/08/2018 23:58:50    2130271

Seeing as we topped our group and are designated home team surely we'll be wearing the white jerseys Sunday. Or am I wrong ?

Live_Wire (Monaghan) - Posts: 40 - 07/08/2018 00:10:17    2130275

Looking forward to this match and its very hard to call it with any degree of confidence. Its going to be a whole new ball game in Croke Park and what happened in Healy Park, Ballybofey , Clones etc may have very little bearing on the outcome.
It would be nice to see any of the two counties contesting an All Ireland final. It would be great to see McManus, Beggan, Hughes , Wylies and co getting a chance and witness the excitement during the build up within Monaghan. Then again it would be great to see Mickey Harte getting another crack at a final and put it up to his critics especially Brolly and O'Rourke and some within his own county.
Monaghan will bring a more balanced and stronger challenge than Donegal both physically and mentally with greater intensity as well . They have built up good momentum with more players capable and confident of kicking their own score and not leaving it all to McManus. They appear to have an advantage with their regular free takers. A fully fit Aaron Hughes would be a huge asset to them.
M. Harte got his selection spot on last Sunday.. beginning with the physicality and work rate of McShane/McAilskey/Burns and unleashing the pacey, skillful finishers when the match opened up . The trick is knowing when to start using your bench. Its possible that two or three small forwards would make less progress in a tough/tight opening half so holding a few back makes sense. So many possibilities ..will Tyrone start with Brennan or McGreary?? Will Colm Cavanagh be as influential as he was in Ballybofey or quiet like he was in Omagh against Dublin . With the main men being man marked it could well be decided by someone like Sludden, McAliskey, McCarthy or McCarron hitting top form. Impossible to call , expecting 50,000+ in attendance.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 604 - 07/08/2018 02:21:14    2130284

This is not bonus territory for either team it is a game that must be won. Tyrone have lost their last four semi-finals sometimes overachieving in reaching the last four but no one looks at it this way. An Ulster semi-final adds to the occasion and means the losers will be guttered and it will be a great season for the winners. I'm old enough to remember Monaghan being massive underdogs against Kerry in 1985 a game they should have won and afterwards there was talk of learning from it and getting back. It just does not happen like that. Which team can cope with the pressure of knowing the ultimate prize is an all-Ireland final and still perform. This is a 50/50 game and will come down to which sideline reacts best in the last 20 minutes. Mickey Harte has used his subs well in the last four games but Monaghan also look to have good players coming off the bench. Tyrone to win narrowly.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 07/08/2018 08:21:32    2130292

Game2Halves (Tyrone) - Posts: 265 - 07/08/2018 09:23:56    2130305

bigboon (Tyrone) - Posts: 50 - 07/08/2018 09:40:49    2130316