FORMER Tyrone defender Ryan ‘Ricey’ McMenamin believes Mickey Harte has struck the right balance between defence and attack to overcome Kerry tomorrow and squeeze into their second successive All-Ireland final.
The Red Hands have had their woes in reaching tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi-finals against the Kingdom, losing meekly to Donegal in the Ulster semi-finals before struggling past Super 8s underdogs Cork.
Earlier in the season, Mickey Harte experimented extensively with a kicking game but reverted back to the tried and trusted running game for the All-Ireland Qualifiers after their malfunction against Donegal.
Cathal McShane has led the way on the edge of the square, notching 3-42 (0-23 frees) and was occasionally joined up front by the roving Mattie Donnelly.
The Trillick man’s deployment to a more attacking position in the second half against Cork turned the game in Tyrone’s favour.
On Donnelly’s best position for Tyrone, McMenamin said: “Mattie’s biggest drawback is he can plan anywhere. Look, I think the role he can do now going in at full-forward at times and then dropping back if needed suits the team.
“There is probably no one place for Mattie to play… But if Tyrone really go for it and put pressure on Kerry they could play Mattie higher up the field from the start.”
Even though last Sunday’s final Super 8s tie with Dublin had little at stake, McMenamin noticed Tyrone were kicking the ball into their full-forward line more than ever.
“I think with the form of Cathal McShane they carry that [kicking] threat and if Mattie goes in as well they have two good target men.
“But Tyrone’s strength is their running game, they’re powerful athletes… I think they’ll look to suffocate Kerry early doors and maybe catch them a few times on the counter and push on from there.
“And I’d say Tyrone are probably looking at the Kerry defence - they conceded a lot against Meath and they conceded 1-20 against Donegal.
“They played Donegal without Neil McGee and Paddy McGrath and Donegal probably thought if they had a fully fit squad they would have been able to handle Kerry.
The three-time All-Ireland winner added: “Tyrone have no fear of Kerry but I don’t think Kerry have any fear of Tyrone. But Tyrone are more seasoned, they’ve been around the block four or five years so they’ve a lot more experience.
“Kerry have a lot of good forwards and they will cause Tyrone problems. Tyrone struggled against Donegal because they were probably the best forwards they’d met.
“Now, they were playing a bit more open then, but they’ve gone back to type.”
Tyrone’s defensive match-ups will need to be right with McMenamin feeling that Padraig Hampsey will pick up either David Clifford or Paul Geaney.
“Last Sunday, Tyrone got 30 minutes into Paudie Hampsey, 40 or 50 minutes into Tiernan McCann and 30 or 40 minutes into Richie Donnelly… I’d say Hampsey will start because he’ll pick up Geaney or Clifford.
“It will be interesting but Tyrone will think they are better defensively and the way Cathal McShane and Mattie Donnelly are playing – and Niall [Sludden] has come into form – they will have enough fire-power themselves to win.”
