MULLIGAN: PITCH NARROWED FOR DONEGAL NOT DUBS
OWEN MULLIGAN claims Tyrone altered the pitch in Omagh for the visit of Dublin in order to prepare for this weekend’s showdown with Donegal in Ballybofey. Red Hands boss Mickey Harte blamed broadcasters Sky Sports for narrowing the Healy Park pitch, but Mulligan believes there is a different explanation. ‘This game is huge for Tyrone, absolutely massive,’ said the former Red Hand star in his role as Paddy Power ambassador. ‘The whispers doing the rounds in the county are that Omagh’s pitch wasn’t narrowed for the Dubs, but to reflect the size of Ballybofey’s pitch. That will tell you how big this game is. ‘It’s going to be a tight one. Ballybofey isn’t an easy place to go. It will be hostile,’ said Mulligan. ‘Donegal are Ulster champions. Tyrone are yet to beat a Division 1 team in the Championship. That’s a big worry for me. We have been beaten by Monaghan and we’ve been beaten by Dublin and now we have a must-win game against Donegal. ‘I think Donegal will mirror Dublin’s style the last day in taking out the ball-winners and the big players such as Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly and Niall Sludden. Dublin targeted those three lads and made it difficult for us to supply them with enough ball. Only four forwards scored from play against Dublin and that’s crazy considering the scores we were racking up before that. You are not going to win big games with that kind of a return.’ Mulligan also criticised his former manager for removing free-taker Connor McAliskey during the Super 8s defeat to Dublin. ‘I personally have always thought that you can carry a free-taker,’ Mulligan said. ‘I don’t think Connor McAliskey should have been taken off no matter how bad a game he was having. He is still our top scorer. ‘McAliskey should’ve been kept on so Mickey Harte needs to take a bit of blame for that.’ Regardless of who wins in Ballybofey on Sunday, Mulligan doesn’t see either team challenging Dublin for All-Ireland honours, but Galway might be the best bet. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen anyone who can stop Dublin this year. I was very impressed with Tyrone in the first half but the winning mentality that Dublin has makes them a hard animal to stop. I just can’t see anyone stopping them. ‘I’ve a wee, sneaky feeling that Galway could give them a bit of a game if they meet. If anyone’s going to give them a game, it will be the Tribesmen.’