EVERY game from now on is a must-win for relegation-threatened Tyrone, according to Padraig Hampsey.
The Red Hands have failed to win any of their three NFL Division One games to date, and Saturday's Ulster derby clash with Monaghan gives them an opportunity to turn the corner.
Allstar defender Hampsey is concerned by the early season form of a team that went all the way to the All-Ireland final just a few months ago.
“Every game from now on in the League is vital for us. We need to be picking up as many points as we can,” he said.
“Last season, we had a late rally to get points and we did just manage to stay up, so it’s very important for us to be on form this season and we’ll be trying our best to win the game.
“We’re not looking past this game at the weekend. Monaghan are our focus and we’re going to hopefully get points.”
A fierce rivalry has developed between Tyrone and Monaghan, who met three times in crucial contests last season, each one of them a cliff-hanger decided by a slender margin.
The Farneymen came out on top in the League clash at Castleblayney, and later left Healy Park with a stunning Ulster Championship victory, but it was the Red Hands who triumphed when the neighbours clashed again in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park.
“Going into this game against Monaghan is going to be a tough encounter, it always is when Tyrone play Monaghan, but we’ll definitely be looking to pick up the points,” Hampsey added.
“In the first round of Ulster we played Monaghan at Healy Park and, again it was a bad day that day and Monaghan were very well set up defensively and in attack they were patient and they got the better of us that day.
“But, in the [All-Ireland] semi-final last year, it was a great game, and we came out on top after showing great character that day and it was definitely a great battle, but it always is when these two teams play.
“Even last year in the League, that was a great game as well, but unfortunately we lost that one as well, so it will definitely be tough again but we’re expecting a great game.
“They did pick up two great points against Dublin, it’s always great to get a win over the likes of a big team like that, but it was a weird one for them and I’m sure they will be coming all guns blazing on Saturday evening and will be confident of picking up the points themselves.”
After losing to Kerry and Mayo, Tyrone finally got off the mark with a draw against Roscommon two weeks ago, and Hampsey is urging his team-mates to draw confidence from a gutsy performance at Hyde Park.
“We picked up our first points against Roscommon two weekends ago, which was a positive because we were going in six or seven points down at half-time.
“It was a good turn around in the second half when we could have nipped the game as well.
“The second half against Roscommon definitely brought a bit of confidence back into the lads. we fought hard in the second half to bring it back to a draw.
“It was a tough game against Roscommon, who were well set up and it was a bad day.
“There was a strong breeze in the first half, so we did well and it will stand well to us and hopefully we can get some more points on the board against Monaghan.”
