Beating Oak Leaf is a mere fig leaf for Tyrone’s inability to excite

DESPITE another routine win in Celtic Park for Tyrone last Sunday, they must change tack to retain Ulster and make an impact in Croke Park. There’s a hell of a lot riding on their provincial semi-final against Donegal on June 18. Mickey Harte’s men broke their losing cycle against them last year but many people still fancy Donegal. Derry v Tyrone was the only football game live on TV last weekend so it commanded much of the focus. Most of it wasn’t complimentary. Tyrone weren’t as bad as they were made out to be but they do have issues. In a game they dominated they created just one goal chance, which fell to a defender. Their system just doesn’t lend itself to goal openings. Ultimately, Mickey Harte is there to win an All-ireland but they won’t even win Ulster by dropping their line so deep. They need to back themselves more, push up the field and not make it so easy for better teams to counteract them. The balance of their attack still isn’t right. Bar Sean Cavanagh, all of their forwards seem to be taken off repeatedly or dropped. Ronan O’neill didn’t get a run on Sunday while Darren Mccurry, a great white hope not so long ago, only came off the bench. Mark Bradley was taken off after a decent first half. Conor Meyler also gets the curly finger quite often. It’s like too many of their players are looking to the sideline, expecting to be whipped off. Four of their forwards were replaced and their bench chipped in with 0-7: a fine tally, but it tells me that they haven’t found the right mix yet. For me, Mattie Donnelly needs to be restored to midfield. He looks like he’s lacking confidence and I’d say his altercation with Chrissy Mckaigue was a reflection of his frustration. Conal Mccann could go to

Mickey Harte is there to win an All-ireland

wing-forward. Donnelly has had far too little influence of late and there’s no future in that for Tyrone. The same with their attacking approach. At times Cavanagh was the only one up front, though I’d give him 10/10 for patience and discipline in the face of the treatment he received off the ball. Tyrone will be hard to beat but they won’t progress this year unless they show a bit more ambition. It’s not a major overhaul that’s required, just a few bits and pieces. As for Derry, they lost the plot. It’s not easy for Damian Barton, given the climate in the county. It’s well documented that Derry have a brilliant club scene but the attitude towards the county team is shocking. It’s got to the stage where it’s embarrassing. It’s all very well having a vibrant club scene but if that’s all there is, it’s not going to inspire more kids to play the game. On Sunday, they rolled over. Their attitude was poor and rather than landing a meaningful hit there was daft tackling and indiscipline. It’s gone so far in Derry now that it’s difficult to see a way back. They’re in Division Three next year and I don’t see them coming out of it unless there are massive changes.