SUPER 8s IS LIMIT FOR US
BRIAN MCGUIGAN is frustrated with how Tyrone are playing but still expects them to beat Cork in tonight’s fourth round qualifier.
A win in Portlaoise will book a place in the Super 8s and that is where the threetime All-ireland winner fears the journey will end for the Red Hands this summer.
“It’s a defensive, counterattacking style of game and teams have to play the same way to beat us, so it’s not pretty to watch,” he admits.
“That’s what is frustrating the Tyrone fans.
“I expect Tyrone will have too much for Cork because they’re a more experienced side and a stronger team, but there is nothing there to excite the Tyrone fans.
“Mayo in defeat nearly came out with more kudos last weekend than Tyrone did for winning.
“We will be in the difficult group in the Super 8s with Dublin and Donegal, and I just can’t see us getting any further.
“Tyrone aren’t setting the world alight. They should have been putting Cavan away last week with ease.
“But there is no point people having a go at Mickey (Harte)– that’s all he has at the minute.”
Despite being labelled a defensive team, Tyrone have racked up big totals both last year and this year. Up until last Saturday’s Kildare v Mayo thriller, they were also involved in the two best football games of the summer against Monaghan and Meath.
Yet despite winning back-to-back Ulster titles and boasting players with All-ireland minor and U21 medals, they are an easy target when it comes to bashing defensive football.
They certainly have no playmaker of the class of Mcguigan, who wishes the current crop would play heads-up football.
“The forwards CORK are all pretty similar... you would have to say that,” admits Mcguigan (right).
“You don’t like going back to your own playing days but inside we had Mugsy (Owen Mulligan), Stevie (O’neill) and Peter (Canavan) who were all brilliant in their own right – but they were totally different as well.
“Now the team is playing a running game but sometimes there’s no penetration because they run with their heads down, instead of looking up and finding a quality TYRONE TV TIMES: Live on Sky Sports Arena from 4pm (throw-in 5pm)