Ulster Senior Football Championship final: Donegal v Tyrone
(Sunday, Clones, 2pm, live on RTÉ1)
A GOOD two-month sift of Ulster has left the two best teams standing. Tyrone and Donegal - a rivalry that sunny Clones should soak up and savour.
Beaten semi-finalists Monaghan and Cavan certainly played their part in what has turned out to be an engrossing Ulster series, but this is a game everybody has been waiting for. The fact they're renewing acquaintances in a final makes it all the more special. As the clock ticks down to Sunday’s decider, it is impossible to imagine just how sweet victory will taste to Mickey Harte or Rory Gallagher when referee David Coldrick blows his final whistle.
It’s the kind of final that sells itself. If there wasn’t a column inch written about it, St Tiernach’s Park would still be bursting at the seams. So here’s how the land lies: Tyrone are on the rise again and Donegal are on the wrong side of the hill. If not in years, in miles.
The opposite was true when these sides met at the semi-final stages on June 26 2011. Tyrone were still swinging, but vulnerable. Donegal had the legs, the hunger and the footballers to just about eclipse their illustrious rivals. They rode their luck in Clones that day.
It was a game Mickey Harte’s men should never have lost. Tyrone led for the first 56 minutes before Colm McFadden and Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy hit late goals to turn the game on its head. It was Donegal’s day of emancipation. Nothing would ever be the same again in the county. Donegal had turned the tables. Tyrone can turn them back on Sunday.
In his autobiography, published late last year, McGuinness made the following observation prior to facing Tyrone in 2011: "I had noticed that Tyrone appeared to tire in recent games after 50 minutes... They had put a big effort into trying to turn the ball over during the first phase or wave of defensive pressure... If Tyrone didn't succeed in turning the ball over during that initial gust of energy, their level of intensity dropped."
Mickey Harte might be thinking the same about the Donegal team of 2016 ahead of Tyrone’s first appearance in a provincial final since 2010. Donegal showed real class in seeing off Monaghan in their semi-final replay 13 days ago - but class needs oxygen and Donegal were running out of gas in the closing stages in Breffni Park.
Prior to their 2007 super-bout, Floyd Mayweather goaded Oscar De La Hoya, who had some stamina issues late in fights, that there was “no gas station in the ring”. De La Hoya tired on the home straight and Mayweather nicked a split decision victory.
While Ryan McHugh, Eoin McHugh and Odhran Mac Naillais have brought the average age of the Donegal squad down by a couple of years, there are still 10 surviving members on the team that beat Tyrone five years ago.
Donegal have miles on the clock, but a well of experience. Tyrone are fresher, but lack the experience of a proud champion like Donegal. Since 2011, Donegal have won all their subsequent Ulster Championship meetings with Tyrone (2012, '13, '15] - but there’s an overwhelming sense the Red Hands can finally crack the code.
During those near-misses, Tyrone have improved in two key areas: they have more running power and have a much improved defensive system: “We definitely have the runners,” said Sean Cavanagh after Tyrone’s replay win over Cavan, “we have serious running power at the moment.
"The way the game has gone, you need that. It's a different game, our size is different, personnel is different and you would hope that it will go a long way to getting a different result [against Donegal].”
And assistant manager Gavin Devlin’s influence has been key in moulding Tyrone’s twin sweeper system. In an Irish News interview in March, Harte explained: “I take Gavin’s defensive mindset on board.
"He played in defence and marshalled defence on the field. He knows how defenders should work and I can learn from him and, together, we work at it. We toss things at each other: what about this, what about that? We think a lot about what we do… I would defer to his defensive nous and I suppose, having played in the forwards myself, I could offer things from that side of the field.”
The great thing about match-ups like Sunday's is it answers the hard questions. Are these Tyrone players the real deal? Can they withstand Donegal’s physical power? How will the younger members of this Tyrone team cope in adversity? And there will be periods of adversity because that’s what Donegal do: they test you, physically and mentally. Are Tyrone ready to knock the seasoned campaigners of Donegal off their perch? And what have Rory Gallagher's men left?
There are plots and sub-plots all over the field. And plenty of class. Tyrone have a magician in Peter Harte. Donegal have an artist in Odhran Mac Niallais. Tyrone have a fearless young braveheart in Cathal McShane. Donegal have the same in Eoin McHugh.
Looking around the field, Niall Morgan will be keen to lay a few ghosts to rest. Tyrone still have the warrior spirit of Sean Cavanagh, who has plans of leading another revolution in the O’Neill county. McGlynn, Lacey and the McGees sport the scars of unforgettable warfare and remain the ruthless oppressors of Ulster. This game has virtually every ingredient.
Tactics aside, Sunday's decider could come down to who handles the pressure moments best. In the recently screened BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary on women’s tennis player Serena Williams and her insatiable desire to equal Steffi Graff’s Grand Slam haul, the American had her own unique take on handling pressure.
“Of course I feel pressure,” she mused.
“But Billy Jean King told me pressure is a privilege. I have to look at it like: ‘Would you rather not be the best or would you rather be on the verge of doing something special?’”
Whoever makes pressure their friend in Clones will emerge victorious. The tables are turning on Donegal. They will stubbornly resist - but this feels like Tyrone's time...
MAN OF THE MOMENT
Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
He may be 33 now and confesses to bouts of frustration when finishing behind the likes of Connor McAlliskey and Ronan O’Neill in training ground sprints, but Sean Cavanagh remains a giant of the modern game.
The big Moy man was outstanding in Tyrone’s replay win over Cavan a couple of weeks ago, playing a similar role to what Michael Murphy fulfils for Donegal. If you’re going to give a player licence to roam, then give it to someone with Cavanagh’s know-how and experience. A magnet to the ball in the middle sector and impossible to intimidate, the even-tempered Cavanagh will go down as one of the greats.
His enthusiasm for the game remains undimmed by the passage of time. As ever, he is key to Tyrone’s success.
TEAM TALK
Donegal
Eamonn McGee is not named to start, but when were the starting line-ups on match programmes reliable?
What is certain is full-back Neil McGee will play after serving a two-match suspension. His Gweedore club-mate Ciaran Gillespie acquitted himself very well against Monaghan and is retained in the full-back line.
Mark McHugh, Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson and Christy Toye are among the Donegal substitutes.
MA McGinley; P McGrath, N McGee, C Gillespie; R McHugh, K Lacey, F McGlynn; R Kavanagh, O MacNaillais; A Thompson, M McElhinney, E McHugh; P McBrearty, M Murphy, M O’Reilly Subs: P Boyle, E Doherty, M McHugh, E McGee, L McLoone, H McFadden, C Toye, E Bán Gallagher, C Thompson, C McFadden, M Carroll
TEAM TALK
Tyrone
The Red Hands are unchanged. Justin McMahon and Ronan McNabb were the two late changes to Mickey Harte’s starting line-up for the Cavan replay 13 days ago and it’s no surprise the defensive pair are retained for Sunday’s final.
Mark Bradley and Rory Brennan, both of whom grabbed a goal apiece from the bench against Cavan, are again held in reserve.
N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, Justin McMahon, P Harte; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; C McShane, N Sludden, R McNabb; C McAliskey, S Cavanagh, R O'Neill Subs: M O’Neill, M Bradley, R Brennan, C Clarke, P Hampsey, C McCann, D McCurry, K McGeary, P McNulty, J Monroe, B Tierney
TACTICAL TAKE
Donegal
Donegal are still pining for Paul Durcan. His absence hasn’t been eagerly felt in their games to date.
Against Fermanagh, they experimented with the short kick-out, but it malfunctioned on a number of occasions. Keeper Mark Anthony McGinley decided to go long for most of the first encounter with Monaghan, which yielded results. And he mixed it up more for the replay.
Without Neil Gallagher in the middle, however, Michael Murphy will shuttle between full-forward and midfield in order to win primary possession for his team. After that, Donegal have the runners and ball carriers to really hurt Tyrone and they would appear to have a physical edge.
TACTICAL TAKE
Tyrone
Tyrone don’t normally push up on the opposition’s kick-outs, even though it would be tempting to do so in this final to attack Donegal's.
Unlike previous Championship encounters against Donegal, Tyrone now have the requisite amount of pace in their ranks. Niall Sludden, Tiernan McCann and Peter Harte will be entrusted with carrying the ball into Donegal territory and the impressive Cathal McShane has deepened the team’s scoring spread.
Free-taking is still an issue for the Red Hands though. If Justin McMahon is posted to mark Michael Murphy, Colm Cavanagh and Ronan McNabb are likely to share sweeping duties and will need to stop Martin McElhinney’s power and Marty O’Reilly's sneaky navigation of the opposition’s defensive blanket.
KEY BATTLE
Michael Murphy (Donegal) v Justin McMahon (Tyrone)
Justin McMahon was recalled to the Tyrone starting line-up for their semi-final replay against Cavan a fortnight ago, sharing defensive sweeping duties with Colm Cavanagh and offered a steady hand.
There may be a temptation for the Tyrone management team to keep McMahon in the role, but then who marks Michael Murphy? Because Murphy needs minding. McMahon stuck to Murphy like Velcro in last year’s provincial meeting between the sides in Ballybofey and kept the Glenswilly man on the fringes of the game.
Praised in some quarters, derided in others for his zealous execution of the role, McMahon appears to be the best option again to saddle up to Donegal’s best player.
WHO'S THE REF?
David Coldrick (Meath)
This will be the Meath man’s third appearace in this year’s Ulster Championship, having taken charge of the Tyrone versus Derry tie at Celtic Park and the semi-final replay between Tyrone and Cavan.
Surprisingly, they turned out to be gentle enough affairs to manage. Sunday will be a more testing assignment, but one Coldrick is well able for. He was in charge of the 2013 and '15 deciders and knows northern terrain better than anyone.
WEATHER FORECAST
It looks like this Ulster final will be blessed by good weather. Temperatures could be as high as 21 degrees Celsius. It is expected to be cloudy and muggy.
Stamina of both sets of players will be tested to the full.
BETTING BOX
Tyrone 4/7; Donegal 15/8; Draw 15/2
Handicap betting
Tyrone -2 6/5; Donegal +2 5/6; Draw (-/+2) 17/2
Ronan O’Neill to score first goal 3/1; Patrick McBrearty to score first goal 7/2; No goalscorer 9/2
PREVIOUS CHAMPTIONSHIP MEETINGS
2015 Ulster SFC preliminary round: Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10; 2013 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 2-10 Tyrone 0-10; 2012 Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-10; 2011 Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 2-6 Tyrone 0-9; 2007 Ulster SFC semi-final: Tyrone 2-15 Donegal 1-7; 2004 Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 1-11 Tyrone 0-9; 1994 Ulster SFC semi-final: Tyrone 1-15 Donegal 0-10; 1989 Ulster SFC final replay: Tyrone 2-13 Donegal 0-7;1989 Ulster SFC final: Tyrone 0-11 Donegal 0-11; 1980 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Tyrone 1-17 Donegal 0-9
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING
Sunday, May 17 (Ballybofey): Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round game: Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10
Played in wet conditions, Darren McCurry scored a brilliant early goal as Tyrone edged ahead.
But Martin McElhinney replied for the home side and, slowly but surely, Rory Gallagher’s men reeled the Red Hands in. The sides were level at 1-10 apiece entering the final quarter, with all of Donegal's scores coming from play.
But a couple of late frees from Michael Murphy inched Donegal ahead and, with Tyrone needing a goal to draw level, Colm Cavanagh almost got one in the closing stages. He leapt highest, but his effort came off the Donegal crossbar and the home side were able to record their fourth consecutive Ulster Championship win over Mickey Harte’s men.
The game was occasionally spiteful, with Neil Gallagher and Sean Cavanagh getting sent-off - two yellows apiece - while there was some jostling as the two sides made their way off at the break.
