Harte’s men enter bear pit

MOST people will know by now that Tyrone under Mickey Harte (below) are almost unique in that they don’t partake in the challenge game circuit. For whatever reason, Mickey just doesn’t see the value in them, andinmytimeweneverplayedin one.

However, before the turn of the year they parted with that tradition when they agreed to a challenge match against Carlow. And, as fate would have it, the pair were drawn together in the qualifiers.

Turlough O’Brien’s men won that night in what was said to be a very feisty affair, and this week Carlow coach Stevie Poacher was quoted as saying that Dr Cullen Park will be a bear pit. Expect fireworks.

It won’t be lost on them that Fermanagh’s goalkeeper Pat Cadden is actually one of the best forwards in the club game in the county and has been brought in for his kick-outs and is largely inexperienced in the position.

So I expect them to bring the heat to him from early in the game. They did that brilliantly against Down, pushing up hard on Marc Reid’s kick-out to the point where he was left with only the option of trying a risky short one or booming it down the middle. Donegal made hay off Down’s kick-outs that day.

They’ll have noticed too that Armagh’s goal in the Division Three final came off a high ball that wasn’t dealt with, so don’t be surprised if they drop a few on top of Murphy or Hugh McFadden early on to see how they go.

So it’s all stacked against Fermanagh. The neutrals would love to see them get over the line here.

Having spent some time there a few years ago, I know how much it would do for the county if they were to get their hands on the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time. And while that would be the result for the romantics, the cold, hard facts state it’s hard to look past Donegal, and I can see them winning with five or six to spare.